--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary…" description: "\"I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/benjamin-franklin-65_arbitrary_i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-governm_917963.png" --- # I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited… ![“I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/benjamin-franklin-65_arbitrary_i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-governm_917963.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/benjamin-franklin-65_arbitrary_i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-governm_917963.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/benjamin-franklin-65_arbitrary_i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-governm_917963.png) > “I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power.” [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 arbitrary rule and limitless authority, advocating for resistance against unchecked power. **In simple terms:** Reject arbitrary government and unlimited power. Key Takeaway Stand against unchecked authority. Themes freedom politics resistance Mood determined defiant Type political inspirational When to use this quote - activism - voting - public advocacy Key Concepts civil liberties government accountability political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What forms of power are most dangerous? - How can citizens effectively limit power? A Different Perspective May incite conflict with authorities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary/) [Arbitrary Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary-government-1290543/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Encroachment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encroachment/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Enemy Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-arbitrary-1398556/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Unlimited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-unlimited-472814/) [Mortal enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortal-enemies/) [Mortal Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortal-enemy-303717/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Unlimited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlimited/) [Unlimited power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlimited-power/) ## Related quotes > [I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power. I am naturally very jealous for the rights and liberties of my country,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-government-and-unlimited-power-i-am/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The greatest calamity which could befall us would be submission to a government of unlimited powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-greatest-calamity-which-could-befall-us-would-be-submission-to-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Fear is the mortal enemy of creativity, innovation, and happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-bogusky/fear-is-the-mortal-enemy-of-creativity-innovation-and-happiness/) [Alex Bogusky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-bogusky/) > [The white man is our mortal enemy, and we cannot accept him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/the-white-man-is-our-mortal-enemy-and-we-cannot-accept-him/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [I guess intractable right-wing ideologues are my mortal enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-guess-intractable-right-wing-ideologues-are-my-mortal-enemy/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [ This industry \[photography\], by invading the territories of art, has become art's most mortal enemy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/this-industry-photography-by-invading-the-territories-of-art-has/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [The white man is our mortal enemy, and we cannot accept him. I will fight to see that vicious beast go down into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/the-white-man-is-our-mortal-enemy-and-we-cannot-accept-him-i-will/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [“...The arbitrary power of the Government is unlimited, and unexampled in history; freedom of the Press, of opinion and of movement are as thoroughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-arbitrary-power-of-the-government-is-unlimited-and-unexampled-in/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [My quarrel is not with the legitimate role of government but with the unlimited role of government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/my-quarrel-is-not-with-the-legitimate-role-of-government-but-with-the/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [“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. It is a cog in the complex of policies and institutions which gradually lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/inflation-is-the-fiscal-complement-of-statism-and-arbitrary/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“Arbitrary government operating by force, by terror, must destroy the best, the boldest dissenters in sheer self-defence; soon it finds itself destroying all who,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-crankshaw/arbitrary-government-operating-by-force-by-terror-must-destroy-the/) [Edward Crankshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-crankshaw/) > [Arbitrary government power is being multiplied daily by the now practically unchallenged assumption that wherever there is any problem of any kind to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/arbitrary-government-power-is-being-multiplied-daily-by-the-now/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [The right of citizens to bear arms is just one guarantee against arbitrary government, one more safeguard against the tyranny which now appears remote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/the-right-of-citizens-to-bear-arms-is-just-one-guarantee-against/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Terrorists can endanger some of us, but the war on terror endangers us all. How much more can the Constitution be diminished before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/terrorists-can-endanger-some-of-us-but-the-war-on-terror-endangers-us/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) ## 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. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [Not to be offensive, not to be capricious, not to be arbitrary, not to be neurotic, not to be an actor outer, you're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hurt/not-to-be-offensive-not-to-be-capricious-not-to-be-arbitrary-not-to/) [William Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurt/) > [I don't concern myself with thinking ahead to the finished product. I focus more specifically on what the character is experiencing. 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. Arbitrary detention, torture and discrimination hurt the human dignity of anybody, whatever his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/contrary-to-what-certain-governments-say-human-rights-are-universal/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [What causes adolescents to rebel is not the assertion of authority but the arbitrary use of power, with little explanation of the rules and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-steinberg/what-causes-adolescents-to-rebel-is-not-the-assertion-of-authority/) [Laurence Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-steinberg/) > [There is something on earth greater than arbitrary or despotic power. The lightning has its power, and the whirlwind has its power, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/there-is-something-on-earth-greater-than-arbitrary-or-despotic-power/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [“nothing is arbitrary in this whole world, there is a good reason behind each and everything…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-kumar/nothing-is-arbitrary-in-this-whole-world-there-is-a-good-reason/) [Nikhil Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-kumar/) > [Fundamentally, adopting rules without any estimate of the impact is the height of arbitrary decision-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-rielly/fundamentally-adopting-rules-without-any-estimate-of-the-impact-is/) [Michael O'Rielly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-rielly/) > [No arbitrary regulation, no act of the legislature, can add anything to the capital of the country; it can only force it into artificial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ramsay-mcculloch/no-arbitrary-regulation-no-act-of-the-legislature-can-add-anything-to/) [John Ramsay McCulloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ramsay-mcculloch/) > [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) [Browse all 529 Arbitrary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-government-and-unlimited-power/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arbitrary" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-government-and-unlimited-power/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/benjamin-franklin-65_arbitrary_i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-governm_917963.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/benjamin-franklin-65_arbitrary_i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-governm_917963.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/benjamin-franklin-65_arbitrary_i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-governm_917963.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power.” — 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": "I am a mortal enemy to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-government-and-unlimited-power/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-am-a-mortal-enemy-to-arbitrary-government-and-unlimited-power/#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 } } ] } ```