When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Liberty requires the government to fear the people; citizens must keep arms to defend against tyranny.
- In plain terms
- Freedom exists when leaders fear the people, not vice versa.
- What can you take from it?
- Citizens must retain power to check government tyranny.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How should power be balanced?
- What tools check government abuse?
Another view
Armed citizens can also create instability.
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