--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These [the armed forces] are not our…" description: "\"“These [the armed forces] are not our reliance against a resumption of tyranny in our fair land. All of them may be turned against our liberties, witho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/abraham-lincoln-88_armed-forces_these-the-armed-forces-are-not-our-relia_469625.png" --- # These \[the armed forces\] are not our reliance against a… ![“These [the armed forces] are not our reliance against a resumption of tyranny in our fair land. All of them may be turned against our liberties, without making us stronger or weaker for the struggle. Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/abraham-lincoln-88_armed-forces_these-the-armed-forces-are-not-our-relia_469625.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/abraham-lincoln-88_armed-forces_these-the-armed-forces-are-not-our-relia_469625.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/abraham-lincoln-88_armed-forces_these-the-armed-forces-are-not-our-relia_469625.png) > ““These \[the armed forces\] are not our reliance against a resumption of tyranny in our fair land. All of them may be turned against our liberties, without making us stronger or weaker for the struggle. Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, every where… Familiarize yourselves with the chains of bondage, and you are preparing your own limbs to wear them. Accustomed to trample on the rights of those around you, you have lost the genius of your own independence, and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises.”” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Liberty depends on love for freedom, not on armed forces; oppression arises when people forget their own independence. **In simple terms:** Freedom lives in love for liberty, not in weapons. Key Takeaway Cultivate love for liberty. Themes freedom responsibility politics Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political activism - education on rights - community organizing Key Concepts civic virtue self‑reliance Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance defense and liberty? - What personal actions nurture freedom? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex security needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Armed forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed-forces/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberties/) [Liberties Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberties-making-4062609/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Liberty God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty-god-602877/) [Turned Liberties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-liberties-4062608/) ## Related quotes > [Liberty is from God; liberties, from the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berthold-auerbach/liberty-is-from-god-liberties-from-the-devil/) [Berthold Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berthold-auerbach/) > [Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/our-reliance-is-in-the-love-of-liberty-which-god-has-planted-in-our/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [But we know that the very God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time. And sometimes we're called upon to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-perdue/but-we-know-that-the-very-god-who-gave-us-life-gave-us-liberty-at-the/) [Sonny Perdue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-perdue/) > [“The liberty of God's people is a heavy grievance to their enemies, Esth. 5:12, 13; Acts 5:17, 33.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/the-liberty-of-god-s-people-is-a-heavy-grievance-to-their-enemies/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“For if any decree of God could be changed, it would be, because God either would not or could not effect the thing decreed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-witsius/for-if-any-decree-of-god-could-be-changed-it-would-be-because-god/) [Herman Witsius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-witsius/) > [God is the foundation of liberty. Because if God is not, who is? The government?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/god-is-the-foundation-of-liberty-because-if-god-is-not-who-is-the/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“As soon as man is fully disposed to be alone with God, he is alone with God no matter where he may be--in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/as-soon-as-man-is-fully-disposed-to-be-alone-with-god-he-is-alone/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The real democratic American idea is, not that every man shall be on a level with every other man, but that every man shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/the-real-democratic-american-idea-is-not-that-every-man-shall-be-on-a/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [It has long been a grave question whether any government, not too strong for the liberties of its people, can be strong enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-has-long-been-a-grave-question-whether-any-government-not-too/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If there is anything which it is the duty of the whole people to never entrust to any hands but their own, that thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-there-is-anything-which-it-is-the-duty-of-the-whole-people-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/don-t-interfere-with-anything-in-the-constitution-that-must-be/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“I fear you do not fully comprehend the danger of abridging the liberties of the people. Nothing but the very sternest necessity can ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-fear-you-do-not-fully-comprehend-the-danger-of-abridging-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Must a government be too strong for the liberties of its people or too weak to maintain its own existence?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/must-a-government-be-too-strong-for-the-liberties-of-its-people-or/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-country-can-preserve-its-liberties-if-its-rulers-are-not-warned/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [O poor New England! There is a deep laid plot against your civil and religious liberties, and they will be lost. Your golden days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/o-poor-new-england-there-is-a-deep-laid-plot-against-your-civil-and/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) ## More by Abraham Lincoln > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More Armed forces quotes > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [Recruitment and retention are critical to sustain our Armed Forces with the best men and women willing to stand in the gap and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/recruitment-and-retention-are-critical-to-sustain-our-armed-forces/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My father was in the military; he was a captain. His service was to quote-unquote integrate the Armed Forces overseas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/my-father-was-in-the-military-he-was-a-captain-his-service-was-to/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe that the Armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-pace/i-believe-that-homosexual-acts-between-individuals-are-immoral-and/) [Peter Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-pace/) > [“The highest ranking Russian intelligence officer to defect from Russia, Stanislav Lunev, testified at a Congressional hearing held in California in January, 2000. Before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/the-highest-ranking-russian-intelligence-officer-to-defect-from/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [A colonial war is a very dirty kind of war. You're not fighting armed forces. You're fighting mostly unarmed people. And to fight that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/a-colonial-war-is-a-very-dirty-kind-of-war-you-re-not-fighting-armed/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Scotland forms a crucial part of our Armed Forces which should not be jeopardised by rushed cuts or a rush to the exit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-hammond/scotland-forms-a-crucial-part-of-our-armed-forces-which-should-not-be/) [Philip Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-hammond/) > [The people of Iraq are grateful for what the people of the United States of America and our armed forces and our coalition forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-isakson/the-people-of-iraq-are-grateful-for-what-the-people-of-the-united/) [Johnny Isakson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-isakson/) > [I have deep respect for our armed forces and jawans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-kumaraswamy/i-have-deep-respect-for-our-armed-forces-and-jawans/) [H. D. Kumaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-kumaraswamy/) > [“The ultimate objective of all military operations is the destruction of the enemy’s armed forces and his will to fight.”\* This sums up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/the-ultimate-objective-of-all-military-operations-is-the-destruction/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [Relations between States, as between individuals, must be regulated not by armed force, but in accordance with...truth, justice and vigorous and sincere co-operation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-xxiii/relations-between-states-as-between-individuals-must-be-regulated-not/) [Pope John XXIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-xxiii/) > [Word to the Nation: Guard zealously your right to serve in the Armed Forces, for without them, there will be no other rights to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/word-to-the-nation-guard-zealously-your-right-to-serve-in-the-armed/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [If Congress grants permission, I would put armed forces in the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jair-bolsonaro/if-congress-grants-permission-i-would-put-armed-forces-in-the-streets/) [Jair Bolsonaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jair-bolsonaro/) > [To lead uninstructed people to war is to throw them away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-lead-uninstructed-people-to-war-is-to-throw-them-away/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Americans will forever be proud of the brave men and women of our armed forces who served in World War II, and we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/americans-will-forever-be-proud-of-the-brave-men-and-women-of-our/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) [Browse all 342 Armed forces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed-forces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“These [the armed forces] are not our reliance against a resumption of tyranny in our fair land. 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