--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Declaration of Independence, the…" description: "\"The Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the constitutions of the several states, and the organic laws of the territories all a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/susan-b-anthony-2103_constitution_the-declaration-of-independence-the-unit_2320393.png" --- # The Declaration of Independence, the United States… ![“The Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the constitutions of the several states, and the organic laws of the territories all alike propose to protect the people in the exercise of their God-given rights. Not one of them pretends to bestow rights.” quote by Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/susan-b-anthony-2103_constitution_the-declaration-of-independence-the-unit_2320393.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/susan-b-anthony-2103_constitution_the-declaration-of-independence-the-unit_2320393.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/susan-b-anthony-2103_constitution_the-declaration-of-independence-the-unit_2320393.png) > “The Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the constitutions of the several states, and the organic laws of the territories all alike propose to protect the people in the exercise of their God-given rights. Not one of them pretends to bestow rights.” [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. These foundational texts assert that rights are inherent, not granted, and aim to safeguard individuals' God‑given freedoms. **In simple terms:** Rights are inherent and protected by law. Key Takeaway Recognize and defend inherent human rights. Themes rights law government freedom Mood principled defiant Type historical political When to use this quote - civil rights activism - legal advocacy - public policy - education - community organizing Key Concepts natural rights social contract constitutional law Questions to Reflect On - How do we apply historic rights to contemporary issues? - What responsibilities accompany inherent rights? A Different Perspective These texts were written in a specific historical context and may not address modern complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutions/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [United states constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states-constitution/) ## Related quotes > [All constitutions, those of the States no less than that of the nation, are designed, and must be interpreted and administered so as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/all-constitutions-those-of-the-states-no-less-than-that-of-the-nation/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-constitutions-of-most-of-our-states-assert-that-all-power-is-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-constitutions-of-most-of-our-states-assert-that-all-power-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is foolishly thought by some that democratical constitutions will not, cannot, last; that the States will quarrel with each other; that a king,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/it-is-foolishly-thought-by-some-that-democratical-constitutions-will/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [ We established however some, although not all its \[self-government\] important principles . The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-established-however-some-although-not-all-its-self-government/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The last time I checked, speaking out against the government isn't a crime but protected under the United States Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-donalds/the-last-time-i-checked-speaking-out-against-the-government-isn-t-a/) [Byron Donalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-donalds/) > [“The United States Constitution turned 225 years old in 2012. It is the central document of American history and politics. From all sides of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-epps/the-united-states-constitution-turned-225-years-old-in-2012-it-is-the/) [Garrett Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-epps/) > [The United States Constitution is clear. It prohibits religious tests for public office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/the-united-states-constitution-is-clear-it-prohibits-religious-tests/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [The United States Constitution only gives the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-united-states-constitution-only-gives-the-right-to-pursue/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The United States Constitution grants education decision authority to the states and localities not to the president of the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-forest/the-united-states-constitution-grants-education-decision-authority-to/) Dan Forest > [I would not look to the United States Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in the year 2012.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-would-not-look-to-the-united-states-constitution-if-i-were-drafting/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [Trust is not what the framers of the United States constitution and of this country relied on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/trust-is-not-what-the-framers-of-the-united-states-constitution-and/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [“So the Next time September 17 rolls around, eat a hot dog, watch some fireworks, and celebrate Constitution Day - that fateful date in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-kiernan/so-the-next-time-september-17-rolls-around-eat-a-hot-dog-watch-some/) [Denise Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-kiernan/) > [There is no sentence in the United States Constitution that says the president's children cannot be indicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-whitaker/there-is-no-sentence-in-the-united-states-constitution-that-says-the/) [Matthew Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-whitaker/) > [The United States Constitution has proved itself the most marvelously elastic compilation of rules of government ever written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-united-states-constitution-has-proved-itself-the-most-marvelously/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## More by Susan B. Anthony > [I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/i-stand-and-rejoice-every-time-i-see-a-woman-ride-by-on-a-wheel-the/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Nothing is hopeless that is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/nothing-is-hopeless-that-is-right/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [It has always been thought perfectly womanly to be a scrub- woman in the Legislature and to take care of the spittoons; that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/it-has-always-been-thought-perfectly-womanly-to-be-a-scrub-woman-in/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [It is cruel for you to leave your daughter, so full of hopeand resolve, to suffer the humiliations of disfranchisement she already feels so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/it-is-cruel-for-you-to-leave-your-daughter-so-full-of-hopeand-resolve/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/let-me-tell-you-what-i-think-of-bicycling-i-think-it-has-done-more-to/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [The only question left to be settled now is: Are women persons?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/the-only-question-left-to-be-settled-now-is-are-women-persons/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [“I was born a heretic. I always distrusted people who know so much about what God wants them to do to their fellows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/i-was-born-a-heretic-i-always-distrusted-people-who-know-so-much/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Many abolitionists have yet to learn the ABC of woman's rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/many-abolitionists-have-yet-to-learn-the-abc-of-woman-s-rights/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [To no form of religion is woman indebted for one impulse of freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/to-no-form-of-religion-is-woman-indebted-for-one-impulse-of-freedom/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/it-was-we-the-people-not-we-the-white-male-citizens-nor-yet-we-the/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [I shall never pay a dollar of your unjust penalty. All the stock in trade I possess is a $10,000 debt, incurred by publishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/i-shall-never-pay-a-dollar-of-your-unjust-penalty-all-the-stock-in/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Whichever way I turn, whatever phase of social life presents itself, the same conviction comes: Independent bread alone can redeem woman from her curse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/whichever-way-i-turn-whatever-phase-of-social-life-presents-itself/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Oh, if I could but live another century and see the fruition of all the work for women! There is so much yet to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/oh-if-i-could-but-live-another-century-and-see-the-fruition-of-all/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [To be wedded to an idea may be, after all, the holiest and happiest of marriages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/to-be-wedded-to-an-idea-may-be-after-all-the-holiest-and-happiest-of/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [For twelve successive Congresses we have appeared before committees of the two Houses making this plea, that the underlying principle of our Government, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/for-twelve-successive-congresses-we-have-appeared-before-committees/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) [Explore all 186 Susan B. Anthony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) ## 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": "The Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the constitutions of the several states, and the organic laws of the territories all alike propose to protect the people in the exercise of their God-given rights. 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