Politics Quote by Ezra Taft Benson
““Since God created man with certain unalienable rights, and man, in turn, created government to help secure and safeguard those rights, it follows that man is superior to the creature which he created. Man is superior to government and should remain master over it, not the other way around. Even the non-believer can appreciate the logic of this relationship.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: General Conference, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, 1975
Human beings possess inherent rights and must retain ultimate authority over governing institutions, which exist to protect those rights.
In simple terms: People should rule governments, not be ruled by them.
Key Takeaway
Guard liberty, keep government accountable.
Themes
rights
government
authority
individualism
political philosophy
Mood
defiant
reflective
Type
political
philosophical
civic
When to use this quote
- citizen activism
- constitutional debate
- civil liberties
- public policy
- education on civic duties
Key Concepts
social contract
natural rights
limited government
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance individual rights with collective responsibilities?
- What mechanisms ensure governments stay servants, not masters?
A Different Perspective
Governments may claim legitimacy through democratic processes, complicating the notion of absolute superiority.
![“Since man created government to help secure and safeguard [inalienable] rights [from God], it follows that man is superior to government and should remain master over it, not the other way around.” quote by Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/95e/ezra-taft-benson-443_government_since-man-created-government-to-help-sec_2509002.jpg)
