--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the end, they wanted security more…" description: "\"In the end, they wanted security more than they wanted freedom.\" — Edward Gibbon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/edward-gibbon-710_courage_in-the-end-they-wanted-security-more-tha_1645237.png" --- # In the end, they wanted security more than they wanted… ![“In the end, they wanted security more than they wanted freedom.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/edward-gibbon-710_courage_in-the-end-they-wanted-security-more-tha_1645237.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/edward-gibbon-710_courage_in-the-end-they-wanted-security-more-tha_1645237.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/edward-gibbon-710_courage_in-the-end-they-wanted-security-more-tha_1645237.png) > “In the end, they wanted security more than they wanted freedom.” [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societies often prioritize safety over liberty, trading freedom for perceived security. **In simple terms:** Security is favored over freedom. Key Takeaway Balance safety with personal liberty. Themes freedom security trade‑off Mood cautious reflective Type political historical When to use this quote - government policy - personal decisions - public health measures - national emergencies Key Concepts political philosophy social contract Questions to Reflect On - What freedoms are you willing to sacrifice for safety? - How can societies protect security without eroding liberty? A Different Perspective Security can become oppressive if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Security Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security-wanted-602637/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-freedom-326027/) [Wanted Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-security-602636/) ## Related quotes > [“Everyone wanted security, but first they wanted to feel more threatened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gon-alo-m-tavares/everyone-wanted-security-but-first-they-wanted-to-feel-more-threatened/) [Gonçalo M. Tavares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gon-alo-m-tavares/) > [“It was this that frightened me--the sense that behind the grande amoureuse lay concealed a little bourgeoise who wanted security in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/it-was-this-that-frightened-me-the-sense-that-behind-the-grande/) [Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“People wanted security. They couldn't bear the idea of death being a black nothing, couldn't bear the thought of their loved ones not existing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/people-wanted-security-they-couldn-t-bear-the-idea-of-death-being-a/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [It was immediately clear to me that security was a cross-cutting issue, so rather than dividing the space up in parallel with each of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-crocker/it-was-immediately-clear-to-me-that-security-was-a-cross-cutting/) [Steve Crocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-crocker/) > [“It isn't for the moment you are stuck that you need courage, but for the long uphill climb back to sanity, faith and security.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/it-isn-t-for-the-moment-you-are-stuck-that-you-need-courage-but-for/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [It costs so much to be a full human being that there are very few who have the Love and the courage to pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-west/it-costs-so-much-to-be-a-full-human-being-that-there-are-very-few-who/) [Morris West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-west/) > [“Life is a beautiful journey, full of joy and pain You never know when it will end, don’t let a moment pass in vain……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehek-bassi/life-is-a-beautiful-journey-full-of-joy-and-pain-you-never-know-when/) [Mehek Bassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehek-bassi/) > [I never thought I would get remarried, I love golf too much. I wanted the freedom to play whenever I'm not broadcasting. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-buck/i-never-thought-i-would-get-remarried-i-love-golf-too-much-i-wanted/) [Joe Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-buck/) > [“There was absolutely no peace. I wanted freedom, breakthrough and most of all I wanted to be rid of the situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sabrena-alexander/there-was-absolutely-no-peace-i-wanted-freedom-breakthrough-and-most/) [Michelle Sabrena Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sabrena-alexander/) > [“Everything about her is disastrous. She’s nothing more than a mess.” “And yet?” he urged me on. And yet, I wanted to be just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/everything-about-her-is-disastrous-she-s-nothing-more-than-a-mess-and/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [We wanted the freedom to love. We wanted the freedom to choose. Now we have to fight for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/we-wanted-the-freedom-to-love-we-wanted-the-freedom-to-choose-now-we/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Youth -- nothing else worth having in the world...and I had youth, the transitory, the fugitive, now, completely and abundantly. Yet what was I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-halliburton/youth-nothing-else-worth-having-in-the-world-and-i-had-youth-the/) [Richard Halliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-halliburton/) > [“Liberated from Saturn, from the order that for years had kept us in line, our narrative organized and mindful of the conventions of story.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-plascencia/liberated-from-saturn-from-the-order-that-for-years-had-kept-us-in/) [Salvador Plascencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-plascencia/) > [When I was 10 and 11, my dream was to be a boy. I saw that there were so many injustices that women had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimouna-doucoure/when-i-was-10-and-11-my-dream-was-to-be-a-boy-i-saw-that-there-were/) [Maimouna Doucoure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimouna-doucoure/) > [I wanted to find something I was passionate about, something with the possibility of upward movement, and I wanted freedom. I need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-olivieri/i-wanted-to-find-something-i-was-passionate-about-something-with-the/) [Dawn Olivieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-olivieri/) ## More by Edward Gibbon > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [A heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-heart-to-resolve-a-head-to-contrive-and-a-hand-to-execute/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [ \[In\] the national and religious conflict of the \[Byzantine and Saracen\] empires, peace was without confidence, and war without mercy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/in-the-national-and-religious-conflict-of-the-byzantine-and-saracen/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Instead of a perpetual and perfect measure of the divine will, the fragments of the Koran were produced at the discretion of Mahomet; each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/instead-of-a-perpetual-and-perfect-measure-of-the-divine-will-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Constantinople was the principal seat and fortress of Arianism; and, in a long interval of forty years, the faith of the princes and prelates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/constantinople-was-the-principal-seat-and-fortress-of-arianism-and-in/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [It is the common calamity of old age to lose whatever might have rendered it desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-is-the-common-calamity-of-old-age-to-lose-whatever-might-have/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-a-man-were-called-to-fix-the-period-in-the-history-of-the-world/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If all the barbarian conquerors had been annihilated in the same hour, their total destruction would not have restored the empire of the West:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-all-the-barbarian-conquerors-had-been-annihilated-in-the-same-hour/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [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/) > [ \[Every\] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/every-hour-of-delay-abates-the-fame-and-force-of-the-invader-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The science of the church is neglected for the study of geometry, and they lose sight of Heaven while they are employed in measuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-science-of-the-church-is-neglected-for-the-study-of-geometry-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The progress of despotism tends to disappoint its own purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-progress-of-despotism-tends-to-disappoint-its-own-purpose/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [From the paths of blood (and such is the history of nations) I cannot refuse to turn aside to gather some flowers of science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/from-the-paths-of-blood-and-such-is-the-history-of-nations-i-cannot/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [A nation of slaves is always prepared to applaud the clemency of their master who, in the abuse of absolute power, does not proceed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-nation-of-slaves-is-always-prepared-to-applaud-the-clemency-of/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) [Explore all 399 Edward Gibbon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## More Courage quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/) [Kristen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-armstrong/) > [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) [Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the end, they wanted security more than they wanted freedom.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Gibbon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/in-the-end-they-wanted-security-more-than-they-wanted-freedom/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/in-the-end-they-wanted-security-more-than-they-wanted-freedom/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/edward-gibbon-710_courage_in-the-end-they-wanted-security-more-tha_1645237.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/edward-gibbon-710_courage_in-the-end-they-wanted-security-more-tha_1645237.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/edward-gibbon-710_courage_in-the-end-they-wanted-security-more-tha_1645237.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the end, they wanted security more than they wanted freedom.” — Edward Gibbon", "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": "Edward Gibbon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In the end, they wanted security...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/in-the-end-they-wanted-security-more-than-they-wanted-freedom/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/in-the-end-they-wanted-security-more-than-they-wanted-freedom/#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 } } ] } ```