--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must erase bin Laden's ugly legacy…" description: "\"We must erase bin Laden's ugly legacy, not extend it: by ending the Patriot Act's erosion of our civil liberties, we can protect the freedoms that make..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/aaron-swartz-11684_act_we-must-erase-bin-laden-s-ugly-legacy-no_3123114.png" --- # We must erase bin Laden's ugly legacy, not extend it: by… ![“We must erase bin Laden's ugly legacy, not extend it: by ending the Patriot Act's erosion of our civil liberties, we can protect the freedoms that make America worth fighting for.” quote by Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/aaron-swartz-11684_act_we-must-erase-bin-laden-s-ugly-legacy-no_3123114.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/aaron-swartz-11684_act_we-must-erase-bin-laden-s-ugly-legacy-no_3123114.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/aaron-swartz-11684_act_we-must-erase-bin-laden-s-ugly-legacy-no_3123114.png) > “We must erase bin Laden's ugly legacy, not extend it: by ending the Patriot Act's erosion of our civil liberties, we can protect the freedoms that make America worth fighting for.” [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocating for ending the Patriot Act to prevent erosion of freedoms and counter extremist legacies. **In simple terms:** Stop laws that erode rights and reject extremist narratives. Key Takeaway Protect civil liberties now. Themes civil rights government policy security freedom Mood urgent determined hopeful Type political activist persuasive When to use this quote - activism - policy debate - public speaking - legislative lobbying Key Concepts liberty erosion patriot act extremism legal reform Questions to Reflect On - How can we safeguard security without sacrificing freedom? - What strategies effectively rally public support for civil liberty reforms? A Different Perspective Balancing security and liberty is complex; political opposition may resist change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Bin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bin/) [Bin laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bin-laden/) [Civil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil/) [Civil liberties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-liberties/) [Ending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ending/) [Ending Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ending-patriot-5491904/) [Erase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erase/) [Erosion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erosion/) [Extend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extend/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Freedoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedoms/) [Legacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legacy/) [Liberties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberties/) [Liberties Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberties-protect-2913119/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Must](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/must/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriot/) [Patriot act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriot-act/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Protect Freedoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-freedoms-681245/) [Ugly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ugly/) [Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth/) ## Related quotes > [Sacrificing British liberties will not protect us. It just plays into the hands of the terrorists. The justice system is not the problem. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-raab/sacrificing-british-liberties-will-not-protect-us-it-just-plays-into/) [Dominic Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-raab/) > [With the death of bin Laden, it's finally time for Congress to bring back the pre-9-11 legal norm, before we decided it was okay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/with-the-death-of-bin-laden-it-s-finally-time-for-congress-to-bring/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Nearly 75,000 Demand Progress members have urged Congress to fix the Patriot Act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/nearly-75-000-demand-progress-members-have-urged-congress-to-fix-the/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [The security of our nation depends on the men and women who are willing to sacrifice their safety, and possibly their lives, to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/the-security-of-our-nation-depends-on-the-men-and-women-who-are/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [The veterans of the United States military put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms. They represent the best of our country,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-lamont/the-veterans-of-the-united-states-military-put-their-lives-on-the/) [Ned Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-lamont/) > [The job of the government isn't to go around and try and make people sacrifice, it's to try and make people free. The reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/the-job-of-the-government-isn-t-to-go-around-and-try-and-make-people/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [It is clear we can make reforms to better ensure we are giving law enforcement all of the tools they need while maintaining the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-boswell/it-is-clear-we-can-make-reforms-to-better-ensure-we-are-giving-law/) [Leonard Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-boswell/) > [I am always honored to have the opportunity to spend time with those who serve and work tirelessly to protect our freedoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-pence/i-am-always-honored-to-have-the-opportunity-to-spend-time-with-those/) [Karen Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-pence/) > [“War is hard, it’s sad, and it’s deadly. But sometimes we have to fight to protect our freedoms and way of life, because if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-twiss/war-is-hard-it-s-sad-and-it-s-deadly-but-sometimes-we-have-to-fight/) [Johan Twiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-twiss/) > [If I happen to be the only Jewish Republican, and I am as a result able to advocate for a stronger, more consistent foreign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-zeldin/if-i-happen-to-be-the-only-jewish-republican-and-i-am-as-a-result/) [Lee Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-zeldin/) > [Generations of American men and women have served our country in the Armed Forces and sacrificed to protect our freedoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-hyde-smith/generations-of-american-men-and-women-have-served-our-country-in-the/) [Cindy Hyde-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-hyde-smith/) > [To protect our freedoms, it seems we're going to have to relinquish some of our freedoms for a short period of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/to-protect-our-freedoms-it-seems-we-re-going-to-have-to-relinquish/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [In the long run, the government can't bring revival; only the Church can do that. But government can keep us safe and protect our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/in-the-long-run-the-government-can-t-bring-revival-only-the-church/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [While only one day of the year is dedicated solely to honoring our veterans, Americans must never forget the sacrifices that many of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-neugebauer/while-only-one-day-of-the-year-is-dedicated-solely-to-honoring-our/) [Randy Neugebauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-neugebauer/) > [We must hold the CCP accountable and protect the freedoms of religion and speech for all. Our athletes, and our world, deserve better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-steel/we-must-hold-the-ccp-accountable-and-protect-the-freedoms-of-religion/) [Michelle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-steel/) ## More by Aaron Swartz > [Without the ability to talk about government power, there's no way for citizens to make sure this power isn't being misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/without-the-ability-to-talk-about-government-power-there-s-no-way-for/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Most people, it seems, stretch the truth to make themselves seem more impressive. I, it seems, stretch the truth to make myself look worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/most-people-it-seems-stretch-the-truth-to-make-themselves-seem-more/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [As the Internet breaks down the last justifications for a professional class of politicians, it also builds up the tools for replacing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/as-the-internet-breaks-down-the-last-justifications-for-a/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Normally, I just sit in my quiet little room and do the small things that bring me pleasures. I read my books, I answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/normally-i-just-sit-in-my-quiet-little-room-and-do-the-small-things/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [But like all power, there are those who want to keep it for themselves. The world's entire scientific and cultural heritage, published over centuries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/but-like-all-power-there-are-those-who-want-to-keep-it-for-themselves/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [What is the most important thing you could be working on in the world right now? ... And if you're not working on that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/what-is-the-most-important-thing-you-could-be-working-on-in-the-world/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Social Security got passed because John D. Rockefeller was sick of having to take money out of his profits to pay for his workers'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/social-security-got-passed-because-john-d-rockefeller-was-sick-of/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [What if there was a library which held every book? Not every book on sale, or every important book, or even every book in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/what-if-there-was-a-library-which-held-every-book-not-every-book-on/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Books are totally useless unless you take their advice. If you just keep reading them, thinking "that's so insightful! that changes everything," but never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/books-are-totally-useless-unless-you-take-their-advice-if-you-just/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [But all of this action goes on in the dark, hidden underground. It’s called stealing or piracy, as if sharing a wealth of knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/but-all-of-this-action-goes-on-in-the-dark-hidden-underground-it-s/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [With enough of us, around the world, we'll not just send a strong message opposing the privatization of knowledge - we'll make it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/with-enough-of-us-around-the-world-we-ll-not-just-send-a-strong/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [There's all sorts of stuff people want to publish anonymously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/there-s-all-sorts-of-stuff-people-want-to-publish-anonymously/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Now, as far as I know, nobody has ever put up the U.S.'s nuclear missiles on the Internet. I mean, it's not something I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/now-as-far-as-i-know-nobody-has-ever-put-up-the-u-s-s-nuclear/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [What is "this drive"? It's the tendency to not simply accept things as they are but to want to think about them, to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/what-is-this-drive-it-s-the-tendency-to-not-simply-accept-things-as/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Life is short ... so why waste it doing something dumb?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/life-is-short-so-why-waste-it-doing-something-dumb/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) [Explore all 58 Aaron Swartz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) ## More Act quotes > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Teachers' unions don't act in the interest of most teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/teachers-unions-don-t-act-in-the-interest-of-most-teachers/) [Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [People take years learning how to act; it's a skill, not just a job. If I tried it out and thought I'd be OK,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-take-years-learning-how-to-act-it-s-a-skill-not-just-a-job-if/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/) [Vashti Quiroz-Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vashti-quiroz-vega/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I have no interest in watching myself act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wesley/i-have-no-interest-in-watching-myself-act/) [Paul Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wesley/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I do believe some people can naturally act and don't know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-do-believe-some-people-can-naturally-act-and-don-t-know-it/) [Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/) > [Regardless of what I do, whether I write a book or whether I act or whether I host, I'll always do stand-up comedy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/regardless-of-what-i-do-whether-i-write-a-book-or-whether-i-act-or/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [On 'Workaholics,' I feel like I'm just hanging out with my buddies being filmed, but on 'Mindy,' I'm around professional funny people who act.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-holm/on-workaholics-i-feel-like-i-m-just-hanging-out-with-my-buddies-being/) [Anders Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-holm/) > [I'm not an artist, and I want to take risks, and when the possibility of failure occurs, it's because the idea is all exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-an-artist-and-i-want-to-take-risks-and-when-the-possibility/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [I don't have a huge amount of gear, but on the software side, I have a number of plug-in chains that act as abstracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-don-t-have-a-huge-amount-of-gear-but-on-the-software-side-i-have-a/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [I honestly didn't know that I wanted to act until I was probably 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-rae-mayo/i-honestly-didn-t-know-that-i-wanted-to-act-until-i-was-probably-12/) [Miranda Rae Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-rae-mayo/) [Browse all 1,802 Act quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must erase bin Laden's ugly legacy, not extend it: by ending the Patriot Act's erosion of our civil liberties, we can protect the freedoms that make America worth fighting for.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aaron Swartz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": 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