--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe in a wall between church and…" description: "\"I believe in a wall between church and state so high that no one can climb over it. When religion controls government, political liberty dies; and when..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/sam-ervin-25684_aids_i-believe-in-a-wall-between-church-and-s_63850.png" --- # I believe in a wall between church and state so high that… ![“I believe in a wall between church and state so high that no one can climb over it. When religion controls government, political liberty dies; and when government controls religion, religious liberty perishes. Every American has the constitutional right not to be taxed or have his tax money…” quote by Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/sam-ervin-25684_aids_i-believe-in-a-wall-between-church-and-s_63850.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/sam-ervin-25684_aids_i-believe-in-a-wall-between-church-and-s_63850.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/sam-ervin-25684_aids_i-believe-in-a-wall-between-church-and-s_63850.png) > “I believe in a wall between church and state so high that no one can climb over it. When religion controls government, political liberty dies; and when government controls religion, religious liberty perishes. Every American has the constitutional right not to be taxed or have his tax money expended for the establishment of religion. For too long the issue of government aid to church related organizations has been a divisive force in our society and in the Congress. It has erected communication barriers among our religions and fostered intolerance.” [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates a strict separation of church and state to protect both religious and political freedoms, arguing that any entanglement leads to oppression of one side. **In simple terms:** Separation safeguards liberty. Key Takeaway Mixing religion and government erodes freedom. Themes separation of church and state religious freedom political liberty government overreach civil rights tolerance Mood defiant cautious principled Type political philosophical When to use this quote - legislative debates on faith‑based funding - court challenges to religious symbols in public spaces - public policy discussions about school vouchers - media commentary on church‑state conflicts Key Concepts constitutional rights taxation establishment clause civil discourse Practical Applications - drafting legislation that enforces clear boundaries - educational programs on constitutional liberties Questions to Reflect On - How does a high wall affect minority religions? - What mechanisms can ensure both freedoms coexist? A Different Perspective Some argue that a collaborative relationship can enrich public life, but such cooperation risks privileging majority beliefs over minorities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aids/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Barriers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barriers/) [Barriers Religions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barriers-religions-858982/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-and-state/) [Church State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-state/) [Climbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbs/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Controls Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controls-religion-797982/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Establishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establishment/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government aid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-aid/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [I believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-in/) [Intolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Our society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-society/) [Over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-it/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Related](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/related/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Controls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-controls-797986/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-liberty/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Too long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-long/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) ## Related quotes > [When religion controls government, political liberty dies; and when government controls religion, religious liberty perishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/when-religion-controls-government-political-liberty-dies-and-when/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [Religion controls inner space; inner space controls outer space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zsuzsanna-budapest/religion-controls-inner-space-inner-space-controls-outer-space/) [Zsuzsanna Budapest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zsuzsanna-budapest/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute - where no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/i-believe-in-an-america-where-the-separation-of-church-and-state-is-2/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [There is no relationship here between Church and State. Religious liberty has its unalterable place, along with civil and human liberty, in the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-harding/there-is-no-relationship-here-between-church-and-state-religious/) [Warren G. Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-harding/) > [I believe in a wall between church and state so high that no one can climb over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/i-believe-in-a-wall-between-church-and-state-so-high-that-no-one-can-2/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [As I see it, there are two great forces of human nature: self-interest, and caring for others. Capitalism harnesses self-interest in a helpful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/as-i-see-it-there-are-two-great-forces-of-human-nature-self-interest/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [There are cases where government-to-government aid actually has worked. Look at the eradication of smallpox and the near eradication of polio. But these are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-novogratz/there-are-cases-where-government-to-government-aid-actually-has/) [Jacqueline Novogratz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-novogratz/) > [By operating independently of government aid, the churches . . . avoid the resentment of those who do not want to be forced to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-swomley/by-operating-independently-of-government-aid-the-churches-avoid-the/) [John M Swomley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-swomley/) > [Things in our country run in spite of government, not by aid of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/things-in-our-country-run-in-spite-of-government-not-by-aid-of-it/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [We must dispel the negative and harmful atmosphere that has been created by avaricious and unprincipled realtors who engage in "blockbusting." 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It is instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/religious-faith-is-not-a-storm-cellar-to-which-men-and-women-can-flee/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [What James Madison and the other men of his generation had in mind when they wrote the First Amendment was that there should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/what-james-madison-and-the-other-men-of-his-generation-had-in-mind/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [A leader is someone who helps improve the lives of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/a-leader-is-someone-who-helps-improve-the-lives-of-other-people/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [Government is contemptuous of true religion when it confiscates the taxes of Caesar to finance the things of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/government-is-contemptuous-of-true-religion-when-it-confiscates-the/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [Recalling an old magistrate's words to a young attorney, The rain it raineth on the just And also on the unjust fella; But chiefly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/recalling-an-old-magistrate-s-words-to-a-young-attorney-the-rain-it/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [When religion controls government, political liberty dies; and when government controls religion, religious liberty perishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/when-religion-controls-government-political-liberty-dies-and-when/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [The President seems to extend executive privilege way out past the atmosphere. What he says is executive privilege is nothing but executive poppycock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/the-president-seems-to-extend-executive-privilege-way-out-past-the/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [Polygraph tests are 20th-century witchcraft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/polygraph-tests-are-20th-century-witchcraft/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [I'll have you understand I am running this court, and the law hasn't got a damn thing to do with it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/i-ll-have-you-understand-i-am-running-this-court-and-the-law-hasn-t/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) [Explore all 22 Sam Ervin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) ## More Aids quotes > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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There is the fascination of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/it-is-a-great-profession-there-is-the-fascination-of-watching-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) [Browse all 1,983 Aids quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aids/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe in a wall between church and state so high that no one can climb over it. When religion controls government, political liberty dies; and when government controls religion, religious liberty perishes. Every American has the constitutional right not to be taxed or have his tax money expended for the establishment of religion. For too long the issue of government aid to church related organizations has been a divisive force in our society and in the Congress. 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