--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Benjamin Franklin, that those who trade…" description: "\"“Benjamin Franklin, that those who trade some of their liberty for a little temporary security deserve neither and will lose both. The wisdom of the fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/brad-thor-4616_benjamin-franklin_benjamin-franklin-that-those-who-trade-s_2673020.png" --- # Benjamin Franklin, that those who trade some of their… ![“Benjamin Franklin, that those who trade some of their liberty for a little temporary security deserve neither and will lose both. The wisdom of the founders never ceased to amaze him.” quote by Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/brad-thor-4616_benjamin-franklin_benjamin-franklin-that-those-who-trade-s_2673020.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/brad-thor-4616_benjamin-franklin_benjamin-franklin-that-those-who-trade-s_2673020.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/brad-thor-4616_benjamin-franklin_benjamin-franklin-that-those-who-trade-s_2673020.png) > ““Benjamin Franklin, that those who trade some of their liberty for a little temporary security deserve neither and will lose both. The wisdom of the founders never ceased to amaze him.”” [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) ## 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 temporary security is a false bargain that leads to loss of both freedoms and safety. **In simple terms:** Giving up freedom for safety is risky. Key Takeaway Guard liberty over short‑term security. Themes freedom security political philosophy Mood cautious thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - public protests - legislative voting - community organizing Key Concepts social contract civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - What freedoms are you willing to compromise? - How does fear influence security policies? A Different Perspective Short‑term security can feel reassuring, making the trade tempting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benjamin franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benjamin-franklin/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Franklin Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/franklin-trade-2519009/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Trade Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade-liberty-1990683/) [Wisdom Founders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-founders-2519008/) ## Related quotes > [Benjamin Franklin once said, 'A people who would trade liberty for security deserve neither.' I think we can have both. We can keep our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/benjamin-franklin-once-said-a-people-who-would-trade-liberty-for/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Those who trade liberty for security have neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/those-who-trade-liberty-for-security-have-neither/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Some in Washington say that you have to trade your liberty for security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/some-in-washington-say-that-you-have-to-trade-your-liberty-for/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [He who would trade liberty for some temporary security, deserves neither liberty nor security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-who-would-trade-liberty-for-some-temporary-security-deserves/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Trade liberty for safety or money and you'll end up with neither. Liberty, like a grain of salt, easily dissolves. The power of questioning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/trade-liberty-for-safety-or-money-and-you-ll-end-up-with-neither/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Benjamin Franklin put it well: “Anger is never without a reason, but seldom a good one.” There”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/benjamin-franklin-put-it-well-anger-is-never-without-a-reason-but/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [“If everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking." 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Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [“Elsewhere in the journal, he transcribes the rules laid down by Benjamin Franklin as a prescription for happiness and success: “Eat not to dullness,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-schechter/elsewhere-in-the-journal-he-transcribes-the-rules-laid-down-by/) [Harold Schechter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-schechter/) > [“In America, Benjamin Franklin famously risked his life by flying a kite in an electrical storm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/in-america-benjamin-franklin-famously-risked-his-life-by-flying-a/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [“People who have become great like Benjamin Franklin only became great because they learned how to invest time into improving whatever it is they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/people-who-have-become-great-like-benjamin-franklin-only-became-great/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Benjamin Franklin said, “Those things that hurt, instruct.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/benjamin-franklin-said-those-things-that-hurt-instruct/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) ## More by Brad Thor > [“Harvath shrugged as his phone chimed. “That’s social media for you. There’s a reason the intelligence community loves it so much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/harvath-shrugged-as-his-phone-chimed-that-s-social-media-for-you/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [...all members of Congress should be required wear NASCAR uniforms. You know, the kind with the patches? That way we'd know who is sponsoring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/all-members-of-congress-should-be-required-wear-nascar-uniforms-you/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“While the words are yet unspoken, you are master of them; when once they are spoken, they are master of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/while-the-words-are-yet-unspoken-you-are-master-of-them-when-once/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [My first novel, 'The Lions of Lucerne,' just poured out of me. It was an amazing feeling of accomplishment. My biggest fear and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/my-first-novel-the-lions-of-lucerne-just-poured-out-of-me-it-was-an/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“He carried no electronics. No laptop, no cell phone, no walkie-talkie. He carried no ID. Beside his large-caliber Glock, spare magazines, and a knife,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/he-carried-no-electronics-no-laptop-no-cell-phone-no-walkie-talkie-he/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“Her parties were some of the best in China. Celebrities, drugs, beautiful women—they had everything. And it was those parties that had propelled her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/her-parties-were-some-of-the-best-in-china-celebrities-drugs/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > ['The Last Patriot' is set in the present day but is based upon the premise that the Prophet Mohammed had a final revelation, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/the-last-patriot-is-set-in-the-present-day-but-is-based-upon-the/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“yours, Rob,” she replied. “Damn it, Gretchen,” he said. “This is how it works. I can’t always give you all the information.” “Well you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/yours-rob-she-replied-damn-it-gretchen-he-said-this-is-how-it-works-i/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“Muslim students would go through a bunch of feel-good exercises and leave with the impression that without Islamic contributions to science, there would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/muslim-students-would-go-through-a-bunch-of-feel-good-exercises-and/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“Bullshit. I don’t know how, but somehow you followed us.” “I will admit, Agent Harvath, that when you logged on to the web site…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/bullshit-i-don-t-know-how-but-somehow-you-followed-us-i-will-admit/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“The first thing Harvath removed was a sand-colored, modified Palafox 9mm SIG Sauer P226 pistol. It had bright green TRUGLO Tritium/Fiber-Optic Day/Night sights that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/the-first-thing-harvath-removed-was-a-sand-colored-modified-palafox/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“As Ben Franklin was alleged to have said, those who would trade a little liberty for a little security deserve neither and will lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/as-ben-franklin-was-alleged-to-have-said-those-who-would-trade-a/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“whoever had written it. Placing the crime scene photo of Claire Marcourt’s body with the other two pictures, he remarked, “How about the local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/whoever-had-written-it-placing-the-crime-scene-photo-of-claire/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“Cowles sat next to him. Upon his lap was a soft, leather briefcase. Inside, his left hand was wrapped around the butt of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/cowles-sat-next-to-him-upon-his-lap-was-a-soft-leather-briefcase/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“Have a smile on your face for everyone you meet, and a plan to kill them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/have-a-smile-on-your-face-for-everyone-you-meet-and-a-plan-to-kill/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) [Explore all 107 Brad Thor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) ## More Benjamin franklin quotes > [“Benjamin Franklin said, “Those things that hurt, instruct.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/benjamin-franklin-said-those-things-that-hurt-instruct/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [“People who have become great like Benjamin Franklin only became great because they learned how to invest time into improving whatever it is they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/people-who-have-become-great-like-benjamin-franklin-only-became-great/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“In America, Benjamin Franklin famously risked his life by flying a kite in an electrical storm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/in-america-benjamin-franklin-famously-risked-his-life-by-flying-a/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [“Elsewhere in the journal, he transcribes the rules laid down by Benjamin Franklin as a prescription for happiness and success: “Eat not to dullness,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-schechter/elsewhere-in-the-journal-he-transcribes-the-rules-laid-down-by/) [Harold Schechter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-schechter/) > [ By 1782 \[John Adams\] had come to feel for \[Benjamin\] Franklin "no other sentiments than Contempt or Abhorrence." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/by-1782-john-adams-had-come-to-feel-for-benjamin-franklin-no-other/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [“Benjamin Franklin put it at a time of similiar uncertainty: “those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fletcher/benjamin-franklin-put-it-at-a-time-of-similiar-uncertainty-those-who/) [Tom Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fletcher/) > [“Benjamin Franklin wrote that he would like to be embalmed in a cask of Madeira”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fadiman/benjamin-franklin-wrote-that-he-would-like-to-be-embalmed-in-a-cask/) [Anne Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fadiman/) > [Pennsylvania, the state that has produced two great men: Benjamin Franklin of Massachusetts, and Albert Gallatin of Switzerland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-ingalls/pennsylvania-the-state-that-has-produced-two-great-men-benjamin/) [John James Ingalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-ingalls/) > [“If everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking." Benjamin Franklin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-gautier/if-everyone-is-thinking-alike-then-no-one-is-thinking-benjamin/) [Susannah Gautier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-gautier/) > [“Benjamin Franklin put it well: “Anger is never without a reason, but seldom a good one.” There”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/benjamin-franklin-put-it-well-anger-is-never-without-a-reason-but/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [This country could use a president like Benjamin Franklin again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/this-country-could-use-a-president-like-benjamin-franklin-again/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [“Homer, in the second book of the Iliad says with fine enthusiasm, "Give me masturbation or give me death." Caesar, in his Commentaries, says,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/homer-in-the-second-book-of-the-iliad-says-with-fine-enthusiasm-give/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Hang together, or hang separately. 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