--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we give up freedom for security, we…" description: "\"If we give up freedom for security, we are in danger of losing both.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/benjamin-franklin-65_cybersecurity_if-we-give-up-freedom-for-security-we-ar_2608005.png" --- # If we give up freedom for security, we are in danger of… ![“If we give up freedom for security, we are in danger of losing both.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/benjamin-franklin-65_cybersecurity_if-we-give-up-freedom-for-security-we-ar_2608005.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/benjamin-franklin-65_cybersecurity_if-we-give-up-freedom-for-security-we-ar_2608005.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/benjamin-franklin-65_cybersecurity_if-we-give-up-freedom-for-security-we-ar_2608005.png) > “If we give up freedom for security, we are in danger of losing both.” [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. Trading liberty for safety risks losing both; true security requires freedom. **In simple terms:** Freedom and security are interdependent. Key Takeaway Balance liberty with responsible safety measures. Themes politics freedom security philosophy Mood thoughtful concerned Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government policy - personal safety decisions - public debate Key Concepts social contract risk trade‑off civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - What freedoms are we willing to compromise? - How can societies protect security without sacrificing liberty? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on security can erode freedoms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom For Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-for-security/) [Freedom Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-security/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) ## Related quotes > [The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-man-who-trades-freedom-for-security-does-not-deserve-nor-will-he/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-who-sacrifices-freedom-for-security-deserves-neither/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/those-who-surrender-freedom-for-security-will-not-have-nor-do-they/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The Product of Freedom and Security is a constant (F X S = k). Giving up freedom for security is beginning to look naive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/the-product-of-freedom-and-security-is-a-constant-f-x-s-k-giving-up/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [Those who are ready to sacrifice freedom for security ultimately will lose both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/those-who-are-ready-to-sacrifice-freedom-for-security-ultimately-will/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [To bargain freedom for security is the devil's bargain. Having made the bargain, one enjoys neither freedom nor security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/to-bargain-freedom-for-security-is-the-devil-s-bargain-having-made/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Are you so afraid that you are willing to trade your freedom for security?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/are-you-so-afraid-that-you-are-willing-to-trade-your-freedom-for/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [You cannot barter security for freedom, or freedom for security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/you-cannot-barter-security-for-freedom-or-freedom-for-security/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [If we do not catch men, we are in great danger of losing even the desire to catch them. Our purposed activity is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-jowett/if-we-do-not-catch-men-we-are-in-great-danger-of-losing-even-the/) [John Henry Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-jowett/) > [People who are willing to give up freedom for the sake of short term security, deserve neither freedom nor security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/people-who-are-willing-to-give-up-freedom-for-the-sake-of-short-term/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or a right. There is only an up or down:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-and-i-are-told-increasingly-that-we-have-to-choose-between-a-left/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“These books can be read, independently of their time and place, as a strong preventive medicine against the mentality of servility, and especially against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/these-books-can-be-read-independently-of-their-time-and-place-as-a/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [For years we've been told by secretive power hoarders we need to compromise some of our hot freedom for security. Civil Libertarians have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kennedy-montgomery/for-years-we-ve-been-told-by-secretive-power-hoarders-we-need-to/) [Lisa Kennedy Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kennedy-montgomery/) > [ \[T\]hose who are willing to surrender their freedom for security have always demanded that if they give up their full freedom it should also… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/t-hose-who-are-willing-to-surrender-their-freedom-for-security-have/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-and-i-are-told-we-must-choose-between-a-left-or-right-but-i/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## 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 Cybersecurity quotes > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [“Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority-- where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-select-man-strives-instinctively-for-a-citadel-and-a-privacy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Our engagement through international economics, trade, these trade agreements, is vital and is linked to our national security. This is a lesson we learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/our-engagement-through-international-economics-trade-these-trade/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you...it means that you do not treat your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/responsibility-to-yourself-means-refusing-to-let-others-do-your/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [I'm OK with guns in schools, if it's a security, trained security personnel. But every teacher having a gun, I don't know if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/i-m-ok-with-guns-in-schools-if-it-s-a-security-trained-security/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [I'm also the chairman of the board of Symantec, which is the world's largest cybersecurity - software cybersecurity company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schulman/i-m-also-the-chairman-of-the-board-of-symantec-which-is-the-world-s/) [Dan Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schulman/) > [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [Fraud will always exist. Enforcement of anti-fraud laws is a useful deterrent, but in the end there's no substitute for investor vigilance. Government regulations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/fraud-will-always-exist-enforcement-of-anti-fraud-laws-is-a-useful/) [John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/) > [As president, things that you're supposed to focus on, things like the economy, like energy policy, which is completely tied to national security, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-burgum/as-president-things-that-you-re-supposed-to-focus-on-things-like-the/) [Doug Burgum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-burgum/) > [The U.S. cannot impose freedom, security, and unity in Iraq by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/the-u-s-cannot-impose-freedom-security-and-unity-in-iraq-by-force/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [Men who have lived significant lives are men who never waited: not for money, security, ease, or women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-deida/men-who-have-lived-significant-lives-are-men-who-never-waited-not-for/) [David Deida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-deida/) > [I've always said that I benefit, as an actor, from not having the illusion of security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sparks/i-ve-always-said-that-i-benefit-as-an-actor-from-not-having-the/) [Hal Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sparks/) > [I don't want to have anything to do with that: just the fame without personal respect for your privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-don-t-want-to-have-anything-to-do-with-that-just-the-fame-without/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [The purpose of the military is to close with and destroy the enemy on behalf of our national security priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-wilcox/the-purpose-of-the-military-is-to-close-with-and-destroy-the-enemy-on/) [Todd Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-wilcox/) [Browse all 6,947 Cybersecurity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we give up freedom for security, we are in danger of losing both.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/if-we-give-up-freedom-for-security-we-are-in-danger-of-losing-both/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cybersecurity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/if-we-give-up-freedom-for-security-we-are-in-danger-of-losing-both/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/benjamin-franklin-65_cybersecurity_if-we-give-up-freedom-for-security-we-ar_2608005.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/benjamin-franklin-65_cybersecurity_if-we-give-up-freedom-for-security-we-ar_2608005.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/benjamin-franklin-65_cybersecurity_if-we-give-up-freedom-for-security-we-ar_2608005.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we give up freedom for security, we are in danger of losing both.” — 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": "If we give up freedom for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/if-we-give-up-freedom-for-security-we-are-in-danger-of-losing-both/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/if-we-give-up-freedom-for-security-we-are-in-danger-of-losing-both/#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 } } ] } ```