Government Quote by Ezra Taft Benson
“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.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Talk at General Conference, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1975
Government exists to protect God‑given rights; thus people must retain ultimate authority over it.
In simple terms: People should rule government, not be ruled by it.
Guard personal liberty against governmental overreach.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- voting
- civic activism
- policy debate
- legal challenges
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance security with freedom?
- When should government limits be challenged?
Power can be abused even when intended to protect rights.