--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Declaration of Independence, the…" description: "\"The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Civil War-when I really think about them they all seem about as likely as the parting of the Red..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/sarah-vowell-2016_civil-war_the-declaration-of-independence-the-cons_1372513.png" --- # The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the… ![“The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Civil War-when I really think about them they all seem about as likely as the parting of the Red Sea.” quote by Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/sarah-vowell-2016_civil-war_the-declaration-of-independence-the-cons_1372513.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/sarah-vowell-2016_civil-war_the-declaration-of-independence-the-cons_1372513.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/sarah-vowell-2016_civil-war_the-declaration-of-independence-the-cons_1372513.png) > “The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Civil War-when I really think about them they all seem about as likely as the parting of the Red Sea.” [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She likens foundational American documents to mythic miracles, suggesting they feel as improbable as biblical events. **In simple terms:** Historical ideals seem as unlikely as miracles. Key Takeaway Question the realism of revered symbols. Themes history myth skepticism politics Mood cynical reflective Type critical analytical When to use this quote - political discourse - education - public debate - media analysis Key Concepts American founding mythic narrative faith in institutions Questions to Reflect On - Do we over‑romanticize founding myths? - How can we reconcile idealism with reality? A Different Perspective Idealism may overlook practical complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Declaration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration/) [Declaration Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration-independence/) [Declaration of independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration-of-independence/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Independence Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence-constitution-1349801/) [Likely Parting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likely-parting-4731020/) [Parting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parting/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red/) [Red sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red-sea/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-really-847487/) ## Related quotes > [It took us in this country 11 years to get from the Declaration of Independence to the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/it-took-us-in-this-country-11-years-to-get-from-the-declaration-of/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [The two most important documents affecting the destiny of America are the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Both these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-two-most-important-documents-affecting-the-destiny-of-america-are/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of these United States are covenants we have made not only with ourselves, but with all mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-declaration-of-independence-and-the-constitution-of-these-united/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [ \[Joseph Smith\] foresaw the time when the destiny of the nation would be in danger and would hang as by a thread. Thank God… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/joseph-smith-foresaw-the-time-when-the-destiny-of-the-nation-would-be/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“Both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were brought forth under the inspiration of God to establish and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/both-the-declaration-of-independence-and-the-constitution-of-the/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights were all written by affluent white males, but to discuss them in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-freedman/the-declaration-of-independence-the-constitution-and-the-bill-of/) [Russell Freedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-freedman/) > [If the citizens of the United States are to turn away from the Communist Manifesto and preserve the purpose of the Declaration of Independence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/if-the-citizens-of-the-united-states-are-to-turn-away-from-the/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [I'm going to steal the Declaration of Independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-m-going-to-steal-the-declaration-of-independence/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/when-the-architects-of-our-republic-wrote-the-magnificent-words-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The Declaration of Independence has been called, with some justice, the most revolutionary document in human history, in that it placed the individual person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bock/the-declaration-of-independence-has-been-called-with-some-justice-the/) [Alan Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bock/) > [Whereas, Slavery, throughout its entire existence in the United States is none other than a most barbarous, unprovoked, and unjustifiable War of one portion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/whereas-slavery-throughout-its-entire-existence-in-the-united-states/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [Many a revolution started with the actions of a few. Only 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence. A few hanging together can lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/many-a-revolution-started-with-the-actions-of-a-few-only-56-men/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [In name we had the Declaration of Independence in 1776; but we gave the lie by our acts to the words of the Declaration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/in-name-we-had-the-declaration-of-independence-in-1776-but-we-gave/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [They were not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, they were absent in the Constitution and they were invisible in the new political democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/they-were-not-mentioned-in-the-declaration-of-independence-they-were/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The Declaration of Independence, the words that launched our nation -- 1,300 words. The Bible, the word of God -- 773,000 words. The Tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbes/the-declaration-of-independence-the-words-that-launched-our-nation-1/) [Steve Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbes/) ## More by Sarah Vowell > [“She is either male property (Mrs.), wannabe male property (Miss), or man-hating harpy (Ms.).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/she-is-either-male-property-mrs-wannabe-male-property-miss-or-man/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [“We were breathing sooty air. The soot was composed of incinerated glass and steel but also, we knew, incinerated human flesh. When the local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/we-were-breathing-sooty-air-the-soot-was-composed-of-incinerated/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [I was a big Nancy Drew reader. Nancy figures it out. Case closed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/i-was-a-big-nancy-drew-reader-nancy-figures-it-out-case-closed/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [“After Hymns and tears, they boarded the brig Thaddeus, a vessel so crappy, it made the Mayflower look like the QE2.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/after-hymns-and-tears-they-boarded-the-brig-thaddeus-a-vessel-so/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [“The last line of Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen is addressed to the American people and their congressmen. "As they deal with me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/the-last-line-of-hawaii-s-story-by-hawaii-s-queen-is-addressed-to-the/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [“In the gravedigger scene in act V, Hamlet looks upon an anonymous skull and jokes that even Alexander the Great decomposed into dust that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/in-the-gravedigger-scene-in-act-v-hamlet-looks-upon-an-anonymous/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [“Another reason I’m intrigued with the hanged of Salem, especially the women, is that a number of them aroused suspicion in the first place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/another-reason-i-m-intrigued-with-the-hanged-of-salem-especially-the/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [Listening to the radio every day for an entire year was a prison sentence. It was the most depressing, annoying, debilitating project I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/listening-to-the-radio-every-day-for-an-entire-year-was-a-prison/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [That's what I like to call him, "the current president." I find it difficult to say or type his name, George W. Bush. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/that-s-what-i-like-to-call-him-the-current-president-i-find-it/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [“The historical periods I like to learn about aren’t so much costume dramas as slasher flicks. The French Revolution is a favorite because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/the-historical-periods-i-like-to-learn-about-aren-t-so-much-costume/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [While I gave up God a long time ago, I never shook the habit of wanting to believe in something. So I replaced my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/while-i-gave-up-god-a-long-time-ago-i-never-shook-the-habit-of/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [Most people don't like to talk about violent historical death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/most-people-don-t-like-to-talk-about-violent-historical-death/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [There are two kinds of people in the world: the kind who alphabetize their record collections, and the kind who don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-in-the-world-the-kind-who-alphabetize/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [What are you hiding? No one ever asks that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/what-are-you-hiding-no-one-ever-asks-that/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [“I don't have a driver's license (phobia).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/i-don-t-have-a-driver-s-license-phobia/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) [Explore all 190 Sarah Vowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) ## More Civil war quotes > [“Time overlaps itself. A breath breathed from a passing breeze is not the whole wind, neither is it just the last of what has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/time-overlaps-itself-a-breath-breathed-from-a-passing-breeze-is-not/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“Whatever happened in those more than one hundred years, from the time my great-great-great grandfather studied law to the time when my own father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwenn-wright/whatever-happened-in-those-more-than-one-hundred-years-from-the-time/) [Gwenn Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwenn-wright/) > [“AUSTRALIA, LIKE THE UNITED STATES, experienced a different path to inclusive institutions than the one taken by England. The same revolutions that shook England…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/australia-like-the-united-states-experienced-a-different-path-to/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [“Thinking about the weather was one way of shutting out of his mind the appalling bloody human mess sprawled out over the bed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ellis/thinking-about-the-weather-was-one-way-of-shutting-out-of-his-mind/) [Mark Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ellis/) > [It cost about 75 cents to kill a man in Ceasar's time. The price rose to about $3,000 per man during the Napoleonic wars;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-bone/it-cost-about-75-cents-to-kill-a-man-in-ceasar-s-time-the-price-rose/) [Homer Bone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-bone/) > [Alabama soldiers, all I ask of you is to keep up with the Texans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/alabama-soldiers-all-i-ask-of-you-is-to-keep-up-with-the-texans/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [“ “In the South, football is confused with religion, chivalry, the Civil War, and women.” -Diane Roberts, The Quotable South ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/in-the-south-football-is-confused-with-religion-chivalry-the-civil/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“By the following morning, September 15, Jackson had positioned nearly fifty guns on Maryland Heights and at the base of Loudoun Heights.  Then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/by-the-following-morning-september-15-jackson-had-positioned-nearly/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [Strange, (is it not?) that battles, martyrs, blood, even assassination should so condense - perhaps only really lastingly condense - a Nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/strange-is-it-not-that-battles-martyrs-blood-even-assassination/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/you-must-study-to-be-frank-with-the-world-frankness-is-the-child-of/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [“Civil wars...are the best wars for the writer...because they have a way of continuing long afterwl wars between nations are resolved; because, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ellison/civil-wars-are-the-best-wars-for-the-writer-because-they-have-a-way/) [Ralph Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ellison/) > [I am out of money,we are all out of money,but we dont need money down here- Dont need anything but Men , Muskets, Ammunition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-connolly/i-am-out-of-money-we-are-all-out-of-money-but-we-dont-need-money-down/) [James A. Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-connolly/) > [Affirmative action was designed to recognize the uniquely difficult journey of African-Americans. This policy was justifiable and understandable, even to those who came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/affirmative-action-was-designed-to-recognize-the-uniquely-difficult/) [Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/) > [“Only twenty - nine years in the entire human history had been without warfare, and now here he was too, travelling between the episodes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadeem-aslam/only-twenty-nine-years-in-the-entire-human-history-had-been-without/) [Nadeem Aslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadeem-aslam/) [Browse all 1,714 Civil war quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Civil War-when I really think about them they all seem about as likely as the parting of the Red Sea.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah Vowell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/the-declaration-of-independence-the-constitution-the-civil-war-when-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Civil war" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/the-declaration-of-independence-the-constitution-the-civil-war-when-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/sarah-vowell-2016_civil-war_the-declaration-of-independence-the-cons_1372513.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/sarah-vowell-2016_civil-war_the-declaration-of-independence-the-cons_1372513.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/sarah-vowell-2016_civil-war_the-declaration-of-independence-the-cons_1372513.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Civil War-when I really think about them they all…” — Sarah Vowell", "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": "Sarah Vowell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/the-declaration-of-independence-the-constitution-the-civil-war-when-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/the-declaration-of-independence-the-constitution-the-civil-war-when-i/#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 } } ] } ```