Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment. It has to be cultivated
– Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
“Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment. It has to be cultivated” was articulated by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during debates in the Constituent Assembly of India. Ambedkar used this phrase to explain that a constitution alone cannot protect democracy unless citizens, institutions, and leaders consciously practice its values. Moral commitment to constitutional principles does not arise automatically — it must be learned, nurtured, and defended over time.
Ambedkar warned that societies often carry deep-rooted social prejudices, traditions, and power hierarchies that conflict with constitutional ideals like liberty, equality, and fraternity. Without cultivating constitutional morality, people may obey the law in form but violate its spirit. Democracy then becomes fragile, reduced to procedures rather than principles.
This quote remains profoundly relevant today. It reminds us that safeguarding democracy is an ongoing responsibility. Constitutional morality grows through education, civic responsibility, respect for institutions, and ethical leadership. Ambedkar’s message is clear: the survival of democracy depends not only on laws, but on the moral consciousness of those who live under them.
