Common Quote by Benjamin Franklin
“No longer virtuous no longer free; is a Maxim as true with regard to a private Person as a Common-wealth.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Observations on the Rights of the British Colonies, 1774
A person who loses virtue also loses freedom, true for individuals and societies alike.
In simple terms: Losing virtue means losing freedom.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate virtue to preserve liberty.
Themes
morality
freedom
society
politics
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- personal conduct
- government policy
- education
- community leadership
Key Concepts
Ethics
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal integrity affect collective liberty?
- Can a society be free without moral citizens?
A Different Perspective
Virtue alone may not guarantee freedom if external forces dominate.
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
