--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a former Commander, I gave an oath to…" description: "\"As a former Commander, I gave an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. As a state senator, I gave that same oath. A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/ryan-zinke-5621_constitution_as-a-former-commander-i-gave-an-oath-to_1183978.png" --- # As a former Commander, I gave an oath to defend the… ![“As a former Commander, I gave an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. As a state senator, I gave that same oath. As a Congressman, I gave an oath to defend the Constitution. There are some things that are not negotiable: Faith, my family, and the Constitution…” quote by Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/ryan-zinke-5621_constitution_as-a-former-commander-i-gave-an-oath-to_1183978.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/ryan-zinke-5621_constitution_as-a-former-commander-i-gave-an-oath-to_1183978.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/ryan-zinke-5621_constitution_as-a-former-commander-i-gave-an-oath-to_1183978.png) > “As a former Commander, I gave an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. As a state senator, I gave that same oath. As a Congressman, I gave an oath to defend the Constitution. There are some things that are not negotiable: Faith, my family, and the Constitution are dead center. It is nonnegotiable to me.” [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Commitment to the Constitution and core values is unwavering, regardless of role or circumstance. **In simple terms:** Non‑negotiable core values. Key Takeaway Prioritize constitution, faith, family. Themes integrity duty principles politics Mood determined serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - legislative decisions - public service - personal choices Key Concepts constitutional law ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile conflicting duties? - What limits should be set on personal convictions in office? A Different Perspective Balancing personal beliefs with public duties can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-enemies-1703488/) [Defend Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend-constitution/) [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Gave Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gave-oath-3484344/) [Oath Congressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath-congressman-3484343/) [Oath Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath-defend-3217117/) ## Related quotes > [For those who have taken an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, it is a call of duty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/for-those-who-have-taken-an-oath-to-defend-the-constitution-against/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [I have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and I will…I have come to peace with myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-mcveigh/i-have-sworn-to-uphold-and-defend-the-constitution-against-all/) [Timothy McVeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-mcveigh/) > [You take an oath to defend the constitution. Congress is the next chapter of our national service. 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That is why people defend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/we-should-make-the-case-for-the-things-we-love-even-if-we-think-that/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [Our Constitution is the principle foundation of our nation, and the oath that President Trump and all members of Congress take is to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/our-constitution-is-the-principle-foundation-of-our-nation-and-the/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [He who takes the oath today to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States only assumes the solemn obligation which every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/he-who-takes-the-oath-today-to-preserve-protect-and-defend-the/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [No man can well doubt the propriety of placing a president of the United States under the most solemn obligations to preserve, protect, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-story/no-man-can-well-doubt-the-propriety-of-placing-a-president-of-the/) [Joseph Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-story/) > [I will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. It is not the Constitution as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-will-to-the-best-of-my-ability-preserve-protect-and-defend-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [May God bless all of our brave men and women in uniform for everything they do to uphold and defend our Constitution and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-lamont/may-god-bless-all-of-our-brave-men-and-women-in-uniform-for/) [Ned Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-lamont/) > [Elect me to office. I will protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. Because there's no constitutional authority for Congress spending on the objects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/elect-me-to-office-i-will-protect-and-defend-the-u-s-constitution/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) ## More by Ryan Zinke > [I'm an advocate for a full spectrum of energy policy, but we're never going to get there with solar cells that are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/i-m-an-advocate-for-a-full-spectrum-of-energy-policy-but-we-re-never/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [In my experience, given how large the border is and given how many people are coming across the border, I mean, look, if a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/in-my-experience-given-how-large-the-border-is-and-given-how-many/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [America is smarter than the politicians. America is demanding a change and not more of the same cronyism, not more of the same deception,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/america-is-smarter-than-the-politicians-america-is-demanding-a-change/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [As someone who grew up in a logging and rail town and hiking in Glacier National Park, I am honored and humbled to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/as-someone-who-grew-up-in-a-logging-and-rail-town-and-hiking-in/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [I think America is strong enough to fix the problems, grace and honor to D.C. I think energy independence and control spending. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/i-think-america-is-strong-enough-to-fix-the-problems-grace-and-honor/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [I'm proud of Congress as a body. At the end of the day, we're the people's house, and we should be very mindful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/i-m-proud-of-congress-as-a-body-at-the-end-of-the-day-we-re-the/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [Radical Islamic terrorists and those who fund it remain a credible threat to America and a clear and present danger to democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/radical-islamic-terrorists-and-those-who-fund-it-remain-a-credible/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [I could literally go on for pages upon pages about Mattis and how influential this man was to me and many others who fought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/i-could-literally-go-on-for-pages-upon-pages-about-mattis-and-how/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [My wife, she was an early-adopter to Trump and a supporter of Trump - earlier than me, by far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/my-wife-she-was-an-early-adopter-to-trump-and-a-supporter-of-trump/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [When you're asked by the president to serve, it's awfully hard to say no, and I'm loyal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/when-you-re-asked-by-the-president-to-serve-it-s-awfully-hard-to-say/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [A lot of what a military officer does is not just leading troops in combat. It's also doing budgets. It's solving complex problems. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/a-lot-of-what-a-military-officer-does-is-not-just-leading-troops-in/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [I have seen America's sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers fight valiantly for our freedom and pay the ultimate sacrifice to defend us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/i-have-seen-america-s-sons-daughters-mothers-and-fathers-fight/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [When I joined the SEALs, no one knew what a SEAL was. 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Listen to your ground commanders.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/remember-it-is-the-president-s-constitutional-duty-to-provide-a/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) [Explore all 100 Ryan Zinke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. 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