--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have the oldest written constitution…" description: "\"We have the oldest written constitution still in force in the world, and it starts out with three words, 'We, the people.'\" — Ruth Bader Ginsburg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29f/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_constitution_we-have-the-oldest-written-constitution_1770055.jpg" --- # We have the oldest written constitution still in force in… ![“We have the oldest written constitution still in force in the world, and it starts out with three words, 'We, the people.'” quote by Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29f/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_constitution_we-have-the-oldest-written-constitution_1770055.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29f/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_constitution_we-have-the-oldest-written-constitution_1770055.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29f/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_constitution_we-have-the-oldest-written-constitution_1770055.jpg) > “We have the oldest written constitution still in force in the world, and it starts out with three words, 'We, the people.'” [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The U.S. Constitution’s opening phrase emphasizes popular sovereignty, grounding law in the collective will of the people. **In simple terms:** People are the source of law. Key Takeaway Participate actively in civic life. Themes democracy law people Mood inspirational patriotic Type foundational motivational When to use this quote - voting - public policy - civic education - activism Key Concepts political theory constitutional law citizen rights Questions to Reflect On - What does “We the people” mean today? - How can citizens influence constitutional change? A Different Perspective Interpretations can diverge over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“the world's oldest written recipe is for beer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-world-s-oldest-written-recipe-is-for-beer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The oldest written poem was by the Greek, Homer. His poem, The Iliad, tells the story of the siege of Troy, a story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-deary/the-oldest-written-poem-was-by-the-greek-homer-his-poem-the-iliad/) [Terry Deary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-deary/) > [Words just cant express what it is three words, two people, one feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/words-just-cant-express-what-it-is-three-words-two-people-one-feeling/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [In the absence of a written constitution, we still rely far too heavily in the U.K. on unwritten and unenforceable 'constitutional conventions.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/in-the-absence-of-a-written-constitution-we-still-rely-far-too/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [The first ten amendments were proposed and adopted largely because of fear that Government might unduly interfere with prized individual liberties. The people wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-first-ten-amendments-were-proposed-and-adopted-largely-because-of/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [“The whole stress of Washington’s presidency, underlined by his farewell, was on the absolute necessity to obey the Constitution. As he said on many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/the-whole-stress-of-washington-s-presidency-underlined-by-his/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [Any kind of new U.K. federal system would almost certainly demand the creation of a written constitution. Properly drafted, such a document could, among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/any-kind-of-new-u-k-federal-system-would-almost-certainly-demand-the/) [Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/) > [“Where is it written in the Constitution that because a guy played football, he has the automatic right to sit in that booth? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kornheiser/where-is-it-written-in-the-constitution-that-because-a-guy-played/) [Tony Kornheiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kornheiser/) > [Except for the Bible, the two greatest documents ever written are the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/except-for-the-bible-the-two-greatest-documents-ever-written-are-the/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [In the era of modern technology, people could just vote on their phones for who they want to be judges. We could amend all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-minow/in-the-era-of-modern-technology-people-could-just-vote-on-their/) [Martha Minow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-minow/) > [ \[The purpose of a written constitution is\] to bind up the several branches of government by certain laws, which, when they transgress, their acts… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-purpose-of-a-written-constitution-is-to-bind-up-the-several/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Is that which was deemed to be of so fundamental a nature as to be written into the Constitution to endure for all times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/is-that-which-was-deemed-to-be-of-so-fundamental-a-nature-as-to-be/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [“As time would prove, he had written one of the great, enduring documents of the American Revolution. The constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/as-time-would-prove-he-had-written-one-of-the-great-enduring/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“In 1840 the first written constitution was given to the people, guaranteeing to them a representative government. In February, 1843, Lord Paulet, of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-david-kalakaua/in-1840-the-first-written-constitution-was-given-to-the-people/) [King David Kalakaua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-david-kalakaua/) > [I disagree strongly with the concept of separation of church and state. It was not written into the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-buck/i-disagree-strongly-with-the-concept-of-separation-of-church-and/) [Ken Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-buck/) ## More by Ruth Bader Ginsburg > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [Work hard on each opinion, but once the case is decided, don't look back; go on to the next case and give it your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/work-hard-on-each-opinion-but-once-the-case-is-decided-don-t-look/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [Racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/racial-discrimination-in-elections-in-texas-is-no-mere-historical/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [The Democrats do fine in presidential elections; their problem is they can't get out the vote in the midterm elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/the-democrats-do-fine-in-presidential-elections-their-problem-is-they/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [In sum, the Court's conclusion that a constitutionally adequate recount is impractical is a prophecy the Court's own judgment will not allow to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/in-sum-the-court-s-conclusion-that-a-constitutionally-adequate/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [I think our system is being polluted by money,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-think-our-system-is-being-polluted-by-money/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We will never see a day when women of means are not able to get a safe abortion in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/we-will-never-see-a-day-when-women-of-means-are-not-able-to-get-a/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [The entering class I joined in 1956 included just nine women, up from five in the then second-year class, and only one African American.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/the-entering-class-i-joined-in-1956-included-just-nine-women-up-from/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [If you ask judges, do you always agree on everything? Of course not, we divide just as you do. Why aren't you transparent about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-you-ask-judges-do-you-always-agree-on-everything-of-course-not-we/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [One thing that concerns me is that today's young women don't seem to care that we have a fundamental instrument of government that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/one-thing-that-concerns-me-is-that-today-s-young-women-don-t-seem-to/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [It's a facet of the gay rights movement that people don't think about enough. Why suddenly marriage equality? Because it wasn't until 1981 that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/it-s-a-facet-of-the-gay-rights-movement-that-people-don-t-think-about/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [If you have a caring life partner, you help the other person when that person needs it. I had a life partner who thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-you-have-a-caring-life-partner-you-help-the-other-person-when-that/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [There are some singers that know exactly when to go, and others hang on much too long and that is the same, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/there-are-some-singers-that-know-exactly-when-to-go-and-others-hang/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [I would not like to be the only woman on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-would-not-like-to-be-the-only-woman-on-the-court/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/my-mother-told-me-to-be-a-lady-and-for-her-that-meant-be-your-own/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) [Explore all 200 Ruth Bader Ginsburg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/) [John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/) > [The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment. We are guardian of rights, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-bird/the-judiciary-must-not-take-on-the-coloration-of-whatever-may-be/) [Rose Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-bird/) > [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“The Court has a special responsibility to ensure that the Constitution works in practice. While education, including the transmission of our civic values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/the-court-has-a-special-responsibility-to-ensure-that-the/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. Truth alone is final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/nothing-from-man-s-hands-nor-law-nor-constitution-can-be-final-truth/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) [Browse all 4,507 Constitution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have the oldest written constitution still in force in the world, and it starts out with three words, 'We, the people.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ruth Bader Ginsburg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/we-have-the-oldest-written-constitution-still-in-force-in-the-world/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Constitution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/we-have-the-oldest-written-constitution-still-in-force-in-the-world/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29f/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_constitution_we-have-the-oldest-written-constitution_1770055.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29f/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_constitution_we-have-the-oldest-written-constitution_1770055.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29f/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_constitution_we-have-the-oldest-written-constitution_1770055.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We have the oldest written constitution still in force in the world, and it starts out with three words…” — Ruth Bader Ginsburg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ruth Bader Ginsburg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We have the oldest written constitution...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/we-have-the-oldest-written-constitution-still-in-force-in-the-world/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/we-have-the-oldest-written-constitution-still-in-force-in-the-world/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```