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About this quote

What does it mean?
Surrendering essential liberty for a small amount of temporary safety forfeits both liberty and safety.
In plain terms
Giving up freedom for brief safety loses both.
What can you take from it?
Do not trade core freedoms for short‑term security.

Where it applies

  • legislation
  • personal data protection

Putting it to work

  • review security policies
  • defend constitutional rights

Questions to consider

  • What limits are acceptable in emergencies?
  • How can we ensure safety without eroding liberty?

Another view

In crises, limited restrictions may protect greater freedoms later.

More from Benjamin Franklin

  1. They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

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  2. We hear of the conversion of water into wine at the marriage in Cana as of a miracle. But this conversion is, through the goodness of God, made every day befor…

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  3. The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and stre…

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