--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary…" description: "\"I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power. I am naturally very jealous for the rights and liberties of my country, and the least ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/benjamin-franklin-65_arbitrary_i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-governm_1377420.png" --- # I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited… ![“I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power. I am naturally very jealous for the rights and liberties of my country, and the least encroachment of those invaluable privileges is apt to make my blood boil.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/benjamin-franklin-65_arbitrary_i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-governm_1377420.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/benjamin-franklin-65_arbitrary_i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-governm_1377420.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/benjamin-franklin-65_arbitrary_i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-governm_1377420.png) > “I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power. I am naturally very jealous for the rights and liberties of my country, and the least encroachment of those invaluable privileges is apt to make my blood boil.” [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. He opposes any arbitrary authority and values personal liberty, feeling intense anger at any threat to rights. **In simple terms:** He hates arbitrary power and defends freedom. Key Takeaway Guard your freedoms vigilantly. Themes politics freedom justice Mood defiant passionate Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - activism - personal rights - public discourse Key Concepts libertarianism civil rights Questions to Reflect On - What limits should be placed on government power? - How can we balance security and liberty? A Different Perspective His language is hyperbolic, possibly alienating moderate readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Invaluable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invaluable/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Mortal enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortal-enemies/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Unlimited power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlimited-power/) ## Related quotes > [I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-government-and-unlimited-power/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [My idea is this, that when you only love a little you’re naturally not jealous-or are only jealous also a little, so that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/my-idea-is-this-that-when-you-only-love-a-little-you-re-naturally-not-2/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [My idea is this, that when you only love a little you're naturally not jealous — or are only jealous also a little, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/my-idea-is-this-that-when-you-only-love-a-little-you-re-naturally-not/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [A professional man of letters, especially if he is much at war with unscrupulous enemies, is naturally jealous of his privacy; he will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/a-professional-man-of-letters-especially-if-he-is-much-at-war-with/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [A professional man of letters, especially if he is much at war with unscrupulous enenemies, is naturally jealous of his privacy... so it was,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-professional-man-of-letters-especially-if-he-is-much-at-war-with-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing distinguishes more clearly conditions in a free country from those in a country under arbitrary government than the observance in the former of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/nothing-distinguishes-more-clearly-conditions-in-a-free-country-from/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [In times of political confusion, and under an arbitrary government, many will prefer to keep their capital inactive, concealed, and unproductive, either of profit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/in-times-of-political-confusion-and-under-an-arbitrary-government/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [“Human rights and freedoms protect us against arbitrary government.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-tirole/human-rights-and-freedoms-protect-us-against-arbitrary-government/) [Jean Tirole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-tirole/) > [Inflation is the fiscal complement of statism and arbitrary government. 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History teaches us that when the rights and liberties of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kubby/freedom-cannot-be-licensed-liberties-cannot-be-regulated-and-rights/) Steve Kubby ## 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 Arbitrary quotes > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. 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Once you relieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-thinking-ahead-to-the-finished-product-i/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-master-for-me-to-submit-to/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [I look back, now, and I know that the naming moment, which seemed so insignificant then, which seemed to demand no more than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-look-back-now-and-i-know-that-the-naming-moment-which-seemed-so/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. 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