--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe strongly in the Constitutional…" description: "\"I believe strongly in the Constitutional principle of separating church and state. Our founders were right in fearing that religious freedom would be t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/sargent-shriver-13145_atheism_i-believe-strongly-in-the-constitutional_987361.jpg" --- # I believe strongly in the Constitutional principle of… ![“I believe strongly in the Constitutional principle of separating church and state. Our founders were right in fearing that religious freedom would be threatened in the long run by a departure from governmental neutrality in spiritual matters.” quote by Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/sargent-shriver-13145_atheism_i-believe-strongly-in-the-constitutional_987361.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/sargent-shriver-13145_atheism_i-believe-strongly-in-the-constitutional_987361.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/sargent-shriver-13145_atheism_i-believe-strongly-in-the-constitutional_987361.jpg) > “I believe strongly in the Constitutional principle of separating church and state. Our founders were right in fearing that religious freedom would be threatened in the long run by a departure from governmental neutrality in spiritual matters.” [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Separating church and state protects both religious freedom and democratic governance from bias. **In simple terms:** Keep government neutral in religion. Key Takeaway Support policies that maintain secular governance. Themes freedom separation governance Mood reflective serious Type political ethical When to use this quote - public policy - education - community organizing - legal reform Key Concepts political theory civil rights law Questions to Reflect On - How can we respect faith while upholding neutrality? - What safeguards ensure true neutrality? A Different Perspective Strict separation can alienate religious communities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [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/) [Constitutional Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutional-principle-1998975/) [Departure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/departure/) [Founders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founders/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/) [Long runs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-runs/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Neutrality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neutrality/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-freedom/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Separating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separating/) [Separating Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separating-church-512513/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Strongly Constitutional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strongly-constitutional-1998976/) [Threatened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatened/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [The idea of separating church and state by the Founding Fathers of America was freedom from the domination of one form of religion, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennox/the-idea-of-separating-church-and-state-by-the-founding-fathers-of/) [John Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennox/) > [ \[The notion of separating church and state with such policies as disallowing prayer in public schools\] is a deception from Satan. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/the-notion-of-separating-church-and-state-with-such-policies-as/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [I think it is appropriate that we pay tribute to this great constitutional principle which is enshrined in the First Amendment of the Constitution:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/i-think-it-is-appropriate-that-we-pay-tribute-to-this-great/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [How fortunate I was to be alive and a lawyer when, for the first time in United States history, it became possible to urge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/how-fortunate-i-was-to-be-alive-and-a-lawyer-when-for-the-first-time/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [What the Tea Parties are standing for is constitutional principle. It's not fundamentally about tax rates or whether to have a consumption tax or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-p-george/what-the-tea-parties-are-standing-for-is-constitutional-principle-it/) [Robert P. George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-p-george/) > [I am tolerant of all creeds. Yet if any sect suffered itself to be used for political objects I would meet it by political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-fillmore/i-am-tolerant-of-all-creeds-yet-if-any-sect-suffered-itself-to-be/) [Millard Fillmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-fillmore/) > [Church and state should be separate, not only in form, but fact - religion and politics should not be mingled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-fillmore/church-and-state-should-be-separate-not-only-in-form-but-fact/) [Millard Fillmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-fillmore/) > [The decision for complete religious freedom and for separation of church and state in the eyes of the rest of the world was perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-steele-commager/the-decision-for-complete-religious-freedom-and-for-separation-of/) [Henry Steele Commager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-steele-commager/) > [Erecting the 'wall of separation between church and state'... is absolutely essential in a free society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/erecting-the-wall-of-separation-between-church-and-state-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It might be said that religious freedom in the American sense, incorporating the separation of church and state, has been the pivotal concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-leon-blau/it-might-be-said-that-religious-freedom-in-the-american-sense/) [Joseph Leon Blau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-leon-blau/) > [If we run a hundred miles an hour to the other end of the continent in order to get away from the obstacle, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-we-run-a-hundred-miles-an-hour-to-the-other-end-of-the-continent/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The Oslo Accords in 1993 determined that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are a single territorial entity which cannot be divided. Immediately,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-oslo-accords-in-1993-determined-that-the-gaza-strip-and-the-west/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Since, however, it is immaterial whether the work is done by assistants or a machine, I decided to build a machine equivalent to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/since-however-it-is-immaterial-whether-the-work-is-done-by-assistants/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The impossibility of separating the nomenclature of a science from the science itself, is owing to this, that every branch of physical science must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-lavoisier/the-impossibility-of-separating-the-nomenclature-of-a-science-from/) [Antoine Lavoisier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-lavoisier/) > [Religions are not for separating men from one another, they are meant to bind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/religions-are-not-for-separating-men-from-one-another-they-are-meant/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by Sargent Shriver > [In the Peace Corps, the volunteer must be a fully developed, mature person. He must not join to run abroad or escape problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/in-the-peace-corps-the-volunteer-must-be-a-fully-developed-mature/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [I don't think the Gallup Poll technique is going to be very helpful in determining the goals of our educational system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/i-don-t-think-the-gallup-poll-technique-is-going-to-be-very-helpful/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [One of the things Mr. Kennedy taught me was that in laying out a new project, you shouldn't try to cope with every little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/one-of-the-things-mr-kennedy-taught-me-was-that-in-laying-out-a-new/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [There is an alternative to war. It has been with us forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/there-is-an-alternative-to-war-it-has-been-with-us-forever/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [Shatter the glass. In our society that is so self-absorbed, begin to look less at yourself and more at each other. Learn more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/shatter-the-glass-in-our-society-that-is-so-self-absorbed-begin-to/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [When Roosevelt came along, I approved of his program, generally. I figured an economic system should work for people, not vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/when-roosevelt-came-along-i-approved-of-his-program-generally-i/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [Christian virtues unite men. Racism separates them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/christian-virtues-unite-men-racism-separates-them/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [Racists are irrational and illogical in their attempts to justify their prejudices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/racists-are-irrational-and-illogical-in-their-attempts-to-justify/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [It's the most rewarding thing to be a civil servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/it-s-the-most-rewarding-thing-to-be-a-civil-servant/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [A line has to be drawn somewhere between what is essential and what is peripheral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/a-line-has-to-be-drawn-somewhere-between-what-is-essential-and-what/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [The cure is care. Caring for others is the practice of peace. Caring becomes as important as curing. Caring produces the cure, not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/the-cure-is-care-caring-for-others-is-the-practice-of-peace-caring/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [The Peace Corps is guilty of enthusiasm and a crusading spirit. But we're not apologetic about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/the-peace-corps-is-guilty-of-enthusiasm-and-a-crusading-spirit-but-we/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [It is not what you get out of life that counts. It's what you give and what is given from the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/it-is-not-what-you-get-out-of-life-that-counts-it-s-what-you-give-and/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [The roots of racism lie deep in man's nature, wounded and bruised by original sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/the-roots-of-racism-lie-deep-in-man-s-nature-wounded-and-bruised-by/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [He who knows all things and believes nothing is damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/he-who-knows-all-things-and-believes-nothing-is-damned/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) [Explore all 51 Sargent Shriver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [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/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? 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Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe strongly in the Constitutional principle of separating church and state. 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