Frank I. Cobb Quote

“The Bill of Rights is a born rebel. It reeks with sedition. In every clause it shakes its fist in the face of constituted authority... It is the one guarantee of human freedom to the American people.”

~ Frank I. Cobb

LaFollette’s Magazine, January 1920

Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

The over all sentiment is correct, it is just stated poorly for a stand alone quote. In the Republic, the American people are the government with all constituted authority deriving therefrom. The Bill of Rights is a most minimum and narrow statement concerning the sovereign, helping to educate against de facto rules and rulers.

E Archer, NYC

The Bill of Rights is simply an addendum to the Constitution that explicitly reminds everyone that in case you didn't understand it the first time, there are no exceptions to abridging rights to speech, religion, arms, confession, property, and other rights not enumerated. Some of the Founders felt it was unnecessary as it might confuse some into thinking that the Bill of Rights was a declaration of rights -- it is merely a reiteration of what the government may NOT do in detail.

warren, OLATHE

He doesnt understand the constitution.

Ken, Allyn, WA

The rights you have have always been and always will be. They are not derived from a document. The BOR also does not guarantee human freedom to the American people. The people themselves guarantee it (or not, it's up to them). You guarantee your rights by exercising them. If the first amendment doesn't work, try the second.

Patrick Henry, Red Hill

The ultimate guarantor of the viability and vigor of the Constitution is the Virtue of We The People.

In the absence from the People of animating Virtue and of attendant understanding, the noblest work of Man, of its kind, the Constitution of the United States, is, effectively, rendered moot.

Robert, Somewhere in the USA

Everything, including our rights, is rendered moot in times of war and in times of tyranny. The only guarantee of our rights is our ability to protect them, not just for ourselves but for all mankind...

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