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About this quote

What does it mean?
Freedom is delicate and giving it up, even temporarily, counts as betrayal.
In plain terms
Protect freedom always because giving it up even for a while is wrong.
What can you take from it?
Do not trade away freedom even for short-term safety.

Where it applies

  • discussing civil rights
  • debating security vs liberty
  • political speeches

Putting it to work

  • advocating for rights
  • warning against overreach
  • educating citizens

Questions to consider

  • Is freedom worth any price?
  • When is it okay to limit rights?

Another view

Some argue safety sometimes requires temporary limits on freedom.

More from Germaine Greer

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  2. The fear of freedom is strong in us. We call it chaos or anarchy, and the words are threatening. We live in a true chaos of contradicting authorities, an age o…

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  3. The term eunuchs was used by Eldridge Cleaver to describe blacks. It occurred to me that women were in a somewhat similar position. Blacks had been emancipated…

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