in your opinion, what is the most quoted and least understood phrase in the us constitution?
359890
The 2nd amendment which pertains to the right to bear arms is one of the most misunderstood rights of the Bill of Rights.  Most people don’t understand that the 2nd amendment was instituted to create a ready and armed militia; not to hunt squirrels or for protection of their property or protection from one another.
202124
"Work like you don't need the money, \nLove like your heart has never been broken,\nAnd dance like no one is watching"\n\nand\n\n"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup"\n\nare my two favorite quotes
1048306
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are\nwilling to work and give to those who would not.\n - Thomas Jefferson\n\nThe U.S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself.\n - Benjamin Franklin\n\nThat government is best which governs least.\n - Thomas Paine
143469
I like the the phrase (command):  "Eschew obfuscation!"\n\nThe irony is that the phrase itself does not do what it commands!
1059478
anything that is in the constitution..........
63061
The phrase is:\n\n"Those who can, do; those who can't, teach."
322571
Fascinating Facts about the U.S. Constitution\nThe U.S. Constitution has 4,440 words. It is the oldest and the shortest written constitution of any government in the world. \n\n\n\nOf the typographical errors in the Constitution, the misspelling of the word “Pensylvania” above the signers’ names is probably the most glaring. \n\n\n\nThomas Jefferson did not sign the Constitution. He was in France during the Convention, where he served as the U.S. minister. John Adams was serving as the U.S. minister to Great Britain during the Constitutional Convention and did not attend either.\n\n\n\nThe Constitution was “penned” by Jacob Shallus, a Pennsylvania General Assembly clerk, for a fee of $30 ($280.72 today). It was stored in various cities until 1952, when it was placed in the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. During the daytime, pages one and four of the document are displayed in a bullet-proof case. The case contains helium and water vapor to preserve the paper’s quality. At night, the pages are lowered into a vault, behind five-ton doors that are designed to withstand a nuclear explosion. The entire Constitution is displayed only one day a year—September 17, the anniversary of the day the framers signed the document. \n\n\n\nThe Constitution does not set forth requirements for the right to vote. As a result, at the outset of the Union, only male property-owners could vote. African Americans were not considered citizens, and women were excluded from the electoral process. Native Americans were not given the right to vote until 1924.\n\n\n\nJames Madison, “the father of the Constitution,” was the first to arrive in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention. He arrived in February, three months before the convention began, bearing the blueprint for the new Constitution.\n\n\n\nOf the forty-two delegates who attended most of the meetings, thirty-nine actually signed the Constitution. Edmund Randolph and George Mason of Virginia and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts refused to sign due in part to the lack of a bill of rights.\n\n\n\nWhen it came time for the states to ratify the Constitution, the lack of any bill of rights was the primary sticking point.\n\n\n\nThe Great Compromise saved the Constitutional Convention, and, probably, the Union. Authored by Connecticut delegate Roger Sherman, it called for proportional representation in the House, and one representative per state in the Senate (this was later changed to two.) The compromise passed 5-to-4, with one state, Massachusetts, “divided.”\n\n\n\nPatrick Henry was elected as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, but declined, because he “smelt a rat.”\n\n\n\nBecause of his poor health, Benjamin Franklin needed help to sign the Constitution. As he did so, tears streamed down his face.\n\n\n\nGouverneur Morris was largely responsible for the “wording” of the Constitution, although there was a Committee of Style formed in September 1787.\n\n\n\nThe oldest person to sign the Constitution was Benjamin Franklin (81). The youngest was Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey (26).\n\n\n\nWhen the Constitution was signed, the United States’ population was 4 million. It is now more than 300 million. Philadelphia was the nation’s largest city, with 40,000 inhabitants.\n\n\n\nA proclamation by President George Washington and a congressional resolution established the first national Thanksgiving Day on November 26, 1789. The reason for the holiday was to give “thanks” for the new Constitution.\n\n\n\nThe first time the formal term “The United States of America” was used was in the Declaration of Independence.\n\n\n\nIt took one hundred days to actually “frame” the Constitution.\n\n\n\nThere was initially a question as to how to address the President. The Senate proposed that he be addressed as “His Highness the President of the United States of America and Protector of their Liberties.” Both the House of Representatives and the
916087
"Let's agree to disagree."\n\nThat's the best political philosophy I know of. I credit Jesus with coming up with that one.\n\n'Love thy enemies.'
734602
New Preamble To The Constitution\n\n"We, the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetter's.  We hold these truths to be self evident:  that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights."\n\nARTICLE I:  You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth.  More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing you anything.\n\nARTICLE II:  You do not have the right to never be offended.  This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone- not just you!  You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.\n\nARTICLE III:  You do not have the right to be free from harm.  If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and your relatives independently wealthy. \n\nARTICLE IV:  You do not have the right to free food and housing.  Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.\n\nARTICLE V:  You do not have the right to free healthcare.  That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, you are just not interested in public healthcare.\n\nARTICLE VI:  You do not have the right to physically harm other people.  If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.\n\nARTICLE VII:  You do not have the right to the possessions of others.  If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.\n\nARTICLE VIII:  You do not have the right to a job.  All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.\n\nARTICLE IX:  You do not have the right to happiness.  Being an American means that you have the right to to PURSUE happiness, which by they way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.\n\nARTICLE X:  This is an English speaking country.  We don't care where you are from, English is our language.  Learn it or go back to wherever you came from.\n\nARTICLE XI:  You do not have the right to change our history or heritage.  This country was founded on the belief of one true GOD.  And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution.  The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it...TOUGH.
688133
The Constitution is intended as a framework upon which the nation can build a legal system.  It's a wonderful thing.  Read it.  (You can get a free copy from the Cato Institute)\n\nThe only thing better is the Bill of Rights.\n\nMy least favorite Amendment is the 18th, but it's okay 'cos the 21st set that right!
1093152
I think its Teddy Roosevelt\n"Speak softly and carry a big stick"
1099433
I particularly like this one:\n\n"I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves."\n\nThis really makes a lot of sense... you can almost see it:\nAide: "Yes, Mr. President, the American people are firmly behind you, according to a new poll in a big newspaper 94 percent of Americans think that you're doing great!"\n\nThe emperor has no clothes on...
595288
When they create a "Homeland Security" department that smacks of "Brown Shirts." When they concentrate on a country that has lots of oil instead of determinedly pursuing the person really responsible for 911. When they erode our freedoms more and more every day. When they illegally wiretap phone calls and track millions of others. When the Vice President has ties to a new string of gas stations.  When the VP has ties to a company like Halliburton.  Whatever happened to conflict of interest?\n\nHere is a quotation mistakenly attributed to Benjamin Franklin, but was actually someone else.  "Those who surrender essential liberty for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."\n\nThink about it, folks.
1140027
Better version of the quote...\n\n"When President John F. Kennedy was asked during his run for Presidency if he would accept his party's nomination for Vice President, he responded, "Why should I accept second place when first is available? Once you accept second best, you have a tendency to do so the rest of your life." First place is available to you, seize it."\n\nLike many other quotes it gets changed a bit by the quoter?
720646
nooooo not the oooolden tiiiiiiimes its not for colonial stupid, its for the american constitution\n\ndo the awesomest gaazette\nthats a coolio title duuude
1122178
None in reality.!!\n\nWhy! Black Gold!!\n\n\n"We hold dear what our Declaration of Independence says, that all have got uninalienable rights, endowed by a Creator."\nSource: The New York Times, "Reporter's Notebook; Skipping Borders, Tripping Diction," David E. Sanger, May 28, 2002 \n\n\nI told you he never read it!
952476
My favorite is by Abraham Lincoln:\n\n"I guess a man is just about as happy as he makes up his mind to be."\n\nThen there's the common quoted:\n"Happiness is chocolate."\n\nB. Franklin said, "Every man is entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."