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About this quote

What does it mean?
The Constitution was designed to last long and adapt to future human challenges.
In plain terms
The Constitution should change to fit new problems over time.
What can you take from it?
Constitutions must adapt to survive long term.

Where it applies

  • constitutional change
  • long term planning
  • legal evolution

Putting it to work

  • plan for future laws
  • support constitutional adaptation

Questions to consider

  • How much should laws change?
  • What stays the same forever?

Another view

Not all changes are improvements; some can weaken the core.

More from John Marshall

  1. We must never forget that it is a constitution we are expounding.

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  2. Let the end be legitimate, let it be within the scope of the constitution, and all means which are appropriate, which are plainly adapted to that end, which ar…

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  3. The acme of judicial distinction means the ability to look a lawyer straight in the eyes for two hours and not hear a damned word he says.

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