--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by…" description: "\"Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/benjamin-franklin-65_4th-of-july_freedom-is-not-a-gift-bestowed-upon-us-b_1016830.png" --- # Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a… ![“Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/benjamin-franklin-65_4th-of-july_freedom-is-not-a-gift-bestowed-upon-us-b_1016830.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/benjamin-franklin-65_4th-of-july_freedom-is-not-a-gift-bestowed-upon-us-b_1016830.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/benjamin-franklin-65_4th-of-july_freedom-is-not-a-gift-bestowed-upon-us-b_1016830.png) > “Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom is an inherent right granted by natural law, not a privilege given by others. **In simple terms:** Freedom is a natural right. Key Takeaway Defend your rights as inherent, not granted. Themes freedom natural rights law Mood assertive principled Type political inspirational When to use this quote - civil activism - legal reforms - personal autonomy Key Concepts human rights political theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect your freedoms? - What responsibilities accompany natural rights? A Different Perspective Rights can be contested by authorities, requiring vigilance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [4th of july](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/4th-of-july/) [American revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-revolution/) [American voters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-voters/) [Bestowed Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bestowed-men-992376/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom and liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-and-liberty/) [Freedom Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-gift-819128/) [Freedom liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-liberty/) [God and nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-and-nature/) [God nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-nature/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-god-459713/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [Thank God! we are in the full enjoyment of all these privileges. But can we be taught to prize them too much? or how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/thank-god-we-are-in-the-full-enjoyment-of-all-these-privileges-but/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [What is human warfare but just this; an effort to make the laws of God and nature take sides with one party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-is-human-warfare-but-just-this-an-effort-to-make-the-laws-of-god/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [God and nature create nothing that does not fulfill a purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/god-and-nature-create-nothing-that-does-not-fulfill-a-purpose/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“A strange species we are, we can stand anything God and nature can throw at us save only plenty. If I wanted to destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-strange-species-we-are-we-can-stand-anything-god-and-nature-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/i-firmly-believe-that-nature-brings-solace-in-all-troubles/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [My profession is to always find God in nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/my-profession-is-to-always-find-god-in-nature/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/the-best-remedy-for-those-who-are-afraid-lonely-or-unhappy-is-to-go-2/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [God and Nature first made us what we are, and then out of our own created genius we make ourselves what we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/god-and-nature-first-made-us-what-we-are-and-then-out-of-our-own/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [Everybody needs beauty as well as bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/everybody-needs-beauty-as-well-as-bread/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Thus God and nature linked the gen'ral frame, And bade self-love and social be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/thus-god-and-nature-linked-the-gen-ral-frame-and-bade-self-love-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/because-only-then-does-one-feel-that-all-is-as-it-should-be-and-that/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [Are God and Nature then at strife, That Nature lends such evil dreams? So careful of the type she seems, So careless of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/are-god-and-nature-then-at-strife-that-nature-lends-such-evil-dreams/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [“The foregoing generations beheld God and nature face to face; we, through their eyes. Why should not we also enjoy an original relation to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-foregoing-generations-beheld-god-and-nature-face-to-face-we/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [God and Nature met in light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/god-and-nature-met-in-light/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [“A strange species we are. We can stand anything God and nature can throw at us save only plenty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/a-strange-species-we-are-we-can-stand-anything-god-and-nature-can-2/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More 4th of july quotes > [Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/everything-that-is-really-great-and-inspiring-is-created-by-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Me and my cuzin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lol/me-and-my-cuzin/) [Lol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lol/) > [Many public-school children seem to know only two dates—1492 and 4th of July; and as a rule they don't know what happened on either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/many-public-school-children-seem-to-know-only-two-dates-1492-and-4th/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/interwoven-as-is-the-love-of-liberty-with-every-ligament-of-your/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [When wrongs are pressed because it is believed they will be borne, resistance becomes morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-wrongs-are-pressed-because-it-is-believed-they-will-be-borne/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. Do not ever let anyone claim to be a true American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-impossible-to-rightly-govern-the-world-without-god-and-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/but-what-do-we-mean-by-the-american-revolution-do-we-mean-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [My first wish is to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/my-first-wish-is-to-see-this-plague-of-mankind-banished-from-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Lenity will operate with greater force, in some instances, than rigor. It is, therefore, my first wish, to have my whole conduct distinguished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/lenity-will-operate-with-greater-force-in-some-instances-than-rigor/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Think about way back then...turn your thoughts way back then...remember the essence way back then...treasured the memories way back then...Feel free to embrace the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/think-about-way-back-then-turn-your-thoughts-way-back-then-remember/) [Louaiq8](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louaiq8/) > [People have forgotten what 4th of July really is. Its the day we got the freedom we use everyday. Its not fireworks and parties.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-have-forgotten-what-4th-of-july-really-is-its-the-day-we-got/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I usually don't have a burger, a brat, and a steak but it is 4th of July. And I need the energy if I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-usually-don-t-have-a-burger-a-brat-and-a-steak-but-it-is-4th-of/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) [Browse all 309 4th of july quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/4th-of-july/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/freedom-is-not-a-gift-bestowed-upon-us-by-other-men-but-a-right-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "4th of july" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/freedom-is-not-a-gift-bestowed-upon-us-by-other-men-but-a-right-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/benjamin-franklin-65_4th-of-july_freedom-is-not-a-gift-bestowed-upon-us-b_1016830.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/benjamin-franklin-65_4th-of-july_freedom-is-not-a-gift-bestowed-upon-us-b_1016830.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/benjamin-franklin-65_4th-of-july_freedom-is-not-a-gift-bestowed-upon-us-b_1016830.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and…” — Benjamin Franklin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Freedom is not a gift bestowed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/freedom-is-not-a-gift-bestowed-upon-us-by-other-men-but-a-right-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/freedom-is-not-a-gift-bestowed-upon-us-by-other-men-but-a-right-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```