Arms Quote by Archibald MacLeish
“How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when it is attacked by authoritarian dogma. Always, in the final act, by determination and faith.”
About This Quote
Freedom must be defended with appropriate responses: arms against arms, truth against lies, faith against dogma, and ultimately determination and faith.
In simple terms: Defend freedom with the right tool.
Key Takeaway
Adapt your defense to the attack.
Themes
Freedom
Defense
Truth
Faith
Determination
Mood
Resolute
Patriotic
Inspirational
Type
Rhetorical
Philosophical
When to use this quote
- Political debates
- Upholding principles
- Resisting oppression
Key Concepts
Proportional response
Moral courage
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide which response is appropriate?
- What does defending freedom mean to you?
A Different Perspective
The choice of response may not always be clear or easy.
![“[H]e was damned if he was going to water down his arguments simply to satisfy the preference of the mob for dogma and ignorance.” quote by Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/998/ben-elton-12329_dogma_h-e-was-damned-if-he-was-going-to-water_19083.jpg)
