---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Today, as always, the people, no less…"
description: "\"Today, as always, the people, no less than the courts, must remain vigilant to preserve the principals of our Bill of Rights, lest in our desire to be ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/earl-warren-10599_ability_today-as-always-the-people-no-less-than_1416264.png"
---

#  Today, as always, the people, no less than the courts…

![“Today, as always, the people, no less than the courts, must remain vigilant to preserve the principals of our Bill of Rights, lest in our desire to be secure we lose our ability to be free.” quote by Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/earl-warren-10599_ability_today-as-always-the-people-no-less-than_1416264.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/earl-warren-10599_ability_today-as-always-the-people-no-less-than_1416264.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/earl-warren-10599_ability_today-as-always-the-people-no-less-than_1416264.png)

> “Today, as always, the people, no less than the courts, must remain vigilant to preserve the principals of our Bill of Rights, lest in our desire to be secure we lose our ability to be free.”

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Vigilance is required to protect constitutional freedoms from erosion by security measures.

**In simple terms:** Stay alert to protect rights.

Key Takeaway

Guard freedoms against security excesses.

Themes

freedom rights vigilance

Mood

concerned serious

Type

political ethical

When to use this quote

- legislative debates
- court rulings
- public policy
- activism

Key Concepts

constitutional law civil liberties

Questions to Reflect On

- How do we balance security and liberty?
- What safeguards prevent rights erosion?

A Different Perspective

Security concerns can justify overreach, risking liberty.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Bill of rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bill-of-rights/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Gun control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun-control/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/)

## Related quotes

> [Africa is progressing but maybe not in the way you think it is. Even if the overall picture looks good, we must all remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/africa-is-progressing-but-maybe-not-in-the-way-you-think-it-is-even/)

[Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/)

> [Today, our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/today-our-very-survival-depends-on-our-ability-to-stay-awake-to/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [This past year has been very turbulent for the Middle East, and my conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu strengthened my belief that we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/this-past-year-has-been-very-turbulent-for-the-middle-east-and-my/)

[Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/)

> [It is incumbent on a great nation to remain confident, if it wishes to remain free. We need not be ignorant to real threats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/it-is-incumbent-on-a-great-nation-to-remain-confident-if-it-wishes-to/)

[Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/)

> [Though we are optimistic, we must remain vigilant and maintain a sense of urgency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/though-we-are-optimistic-we-must-remain-vigilant-and-maintain-a-sense/)

[Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/)

> [Means of protection, remain vigilant against the emergence of an undesirable event Subsequently, in a quick hurry to implement high-level security system that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/means-of-protection-remain-vigilant-against-the-emergence-of-an/)

Mak\_786

> [We have to remain vigilant and loud and stay consistently engaged with our representatives and the political process every single day, on both a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/we-have-to-remain-vigilant-and-loud-and-stay-consistently-engaged/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> [Never be neutral, always remain vigilant, in allowing your political consciousness to spread through your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-be-neutral-always-remain-vigilant-in-allowing-your-political/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Given Ivan's size and power, we must remain vigilant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rogers/given-ivan-s-size-and-power-we-must-remain-vigilant/)

[Mike Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rogers/)

> [Sierra Leone and Liberia must remain vigilant, that if you think somebody is sick with Ebola, you must get help immediately. Otherwise there could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ofeibea-quist-arcton/sierra-leone-and-liberia-must-remain-vigilant-that-if-you-think/)

[Ofeibea Quist-Arcton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ofeibea-quist-arcton/)

> [In these troubled times we live in, we should remain vigilant and see through populist arguments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-albert-ii/in-these-troubled-times-we-live-in-we-should-remain-vigilant-and-see/)

[King Albert II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-albert-ii/)

> [“And so cooperative people must remain vigilant if decent society is to last. Cooperative vigilance is the only bulwark against decline, especially in capitalist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-so-cooperative-people-must-remain-vigilant-if-decent-society-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We will remain vigilant, and we will not forget that protecting America means that we will defend the principles on which it was founded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-will-remain-vigilant-and-we-will-not-forget-that-protecting/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [Striving for a better tomorrow so I remain vigilant..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/striving-for-a-better-tomorrow-so-i-remain-vigilant/)

[Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/)

> [“That is why in this time of heightened threats, we must remain vigilant and work together as closely as possible if we are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/historica-press/that-is-why-in-this-time-of-heightened-threats-we-must-remain/)

[Historica Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/historica-press/)

## More by Earl Warren

> [When the rights of any individual or group are chipped away, the freedom of all erodes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/when-the-rights-of-any-individual-or-group-are-chipped-away-the/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

> [If Nixon is not forced to turn over tapes of his conversations with the ring of men who were conversing on their violations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/if-nixon-is-not-forced-to-turn-over-tapes-of-his-conversations-with/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

> [When an individual is taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his freedom by the authorities in any significant way and is subjected to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/when-an-individual-is-taken-into-custody-or-otherwise-deprived-of-his/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

> [The success of any legal system is measured by its fidelity to the universal ideal of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/the-success-of-any-legal-system-is-measured-by-its-fidelity-to-the/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

> [There is no requirement that police stop a person who enters a police station and states that he wishes to confess a crime or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/there-is-no-requirement-that-police-stop-a-person-who-enters-a-police/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

> [Racial discrimination in public education is unconstitutional…All provisions of federal, state or local law requiring or permitting such discrimination must yield to this principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/racial-discrimination-in-public-education-is-unconstitutional-all/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

> [It is doubtful that congress would pass the Bill of Rights if it were introduced today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/it-is-doubtful-that-congress-would-pass-the-bill-of-rights-if-it-were/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

> [The police must obey the law while enforcing the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/the-police-must-obey-the-law-while-enforcing-the-law/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

> [It is the spirit and not the form of law that keeps justice alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/it-is-the-spirit-and-not-the-form-of-law-that-keeps-justice-alive/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

> [In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/in-these-days-it-is-doubtful-that-any-child-may-reasonably-be/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

> [Many people consider the things government does for them to be social progress but they regard the things government does for others as socialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/many-people-consider-the-things-government-does-for-them-to-be-social/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

> [If Nixon is not forced to turn over tapes of his conversations with the ring of men who were conversing on their violations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/if-nixon-is-not-forced-to-turn-over-tapes-of-his-conversations-with-2/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

> [Many agricultural counties are far more important in the life of the State than their population bears to the entire population of the State.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/many-agricultural-counties-are-far-more-important-in-the-life-of-the/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

> [I hate banks. They do nothing positive for anybody except take care of themselves. They're first in with their fees and first out when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/i-hate-banks-they-do-nothing-positive-for-anybody-except-take-care-of/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

> [A society, in the process of moving forward, often appears to be tearing itself apart. Certainly, an age of rapid change, such as ours,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/a-society-in-the-process-of-moving-forward-often-appears-to-be/)

[Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

[Explore all 64 Earl Warren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/)

## More Ability quotes

> [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/)

[Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/)

> [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/)

[Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/)

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/)

[Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/)

> [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/)

[Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/)

> [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/)

[Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/)

> [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/)

[Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/)

[Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Today, as always, the people, no less than the courts, must remain vigilant to preserve the principals of our Bill of Rights, lest in our desire to be secure we lose our ability to be free.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Earl Warren"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/today-as-always-the-people-no-less-than-the-courts-must-remain/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ability"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/today-as-always-the-people-no-less-than-the-courts-must-remain/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/earl-warren-10599_ability_today-as-always-the-people-no-less-than_1416264.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/earl-warren-10599_ability_today-as-always-the-people-no-less-than_1416264.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/earl-warren-10599_ability_today-as-always-the-people-no-less-than_1416264.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Today, as always, the people, no less than the courts, must remain vigilant to preserve the principals of…” — Earl Warren",
                "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": "Earl Warren",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Today, as always, the people, no...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/today-as-always-the-people-no-less-than-the-courts-must-remain/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/today-as-always-the-people-no-less-than-the-courts-must-remain/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
