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"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,[note
by avmich 6y ago
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,[note 1] promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
- carlmr 6y agoMore perfect implies imperfection, just less of it.
- valbaca 6y agomore perfect does not imply 'perfect' is the goal nor should it be. "More perfect" in this context is effectively "better." Perfectionism, ironically, stunts improvements.
- WorldMaker 6y agoI think that it is intentional to underscore that "more perfect" != "perfect". The founders that wrote that document did not believe the Constitution was perfect, they knew it a part of process towards perfect, while it might imply perfect is an end goal it also doesn't necessarily say that.
- avmich 6y agoTo other answers here: the phrase in the poem "we're not trying to be perfect" seems contradicting the goal "to form a more perfect Union", unless you think that "let's be perfect" and "less be more perfect" are different enough. I think the road to perfection shares parts with the road to more perfection - often.