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About this quote

What does it mean?
Peace and freedom often conflict; prioritizing one may require sacrificing the other.
In plain terms
You usually have to choose between peace and freedom, not both.
What can you take from it?
Be aware of trade-offs between security and liberty.

Where it applies

  • policy debates
  • protest movements
  • national security

Putting it to work

  • civil liberties advocacy
  • conflict resolution

Questions to consider

  • Which do you value more right now?
  • Can you think of examples where both exist?

Another view

Some societies manage to balance both to some extent.

More from Robert A. Heinlein

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  2. You live and learn. Or you don't live long.

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  3. Whenever women have insisted on absolute equality with men, they have invariably wound up with the dirty end of the stick. What they are and what they can do m…

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