--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only sure bulwark of continuing…" description: "\"“The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_continuing_the-only-sure-bulwark-of-continuing-libe_2397755.jpg" --- # The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a… ![“The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over the government.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_continuing_the-only-sure-bulwark-of-continuing-libe_2397755.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_continuing_the-only-sure-bulwark-of-continuing-libe_2397755.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_continuing_the-only-sure-bulwark-of-continuing-libe_2397755.jpg) > ““The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over the government.”” [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Liberty depends on a strong government protecting people and an informed, empowered populace controlling that government **In simple terms:** Freedom needs both a protective state and an educated citizenry Key Takeaway Ensure both government strength and public education Themes politics freedom citizenry Mood reflective serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting - public policy debates - community organizing Key Concepts government sovereignty information Questions to Reflect On - What balance should exist between state power and citizen oversight? - How can societies keep citizens well‑informed? A Different Perspective Risk of authoritarian overreach ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Continuing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continuing/) [Continuing Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continuing-liberty-5994865/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-strong-409110/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Liberty Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty-government-529519/) [Maintain Sovereign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maintain-sovereign-2774735/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Sovereign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereign/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-enough/) ## Related quotes > [History proves that dictatorships do not grow out of strong and successful governments, but out of weak and helpless ones. If by democratic methods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/history-proves-that-dictatorships-do-not-grow-out-of-strong-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [What constitutes a state? . . . . . . . Men who their duties know, But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-scott-1st-baron-stowell/what-constitutes-a-state-men-who-their-duties-know-but-know-their/) [William Scott, 1st Baron Stowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-scott-1st-baron-stowell/) > [No government can be strong and flourishing while the national character is weak and degraded. A government must flourish and decay with its subjects;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-robbins-curtis/no-government-can-be-strong-and-flourishing-while-the-national/) [Benjamin Robbins Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-robbins-curtis/) > [There was a fear among the original framers that the federal government would be so strong that they might destroy the state militias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/there-was-a-fear-among-the-original-framers-that-the-federal/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [It has long been a grave question whether any government, not too strong for the liberties of its people, can be strong enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-has-long-been-a-grave-question-whether-any-government-not-too/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“As government, and strong rods for the exercise of it, are necessary to preserve public societies from dreadful and fatal calamities arising from among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/as-government-and-strong-rods-for-the-exercise-of-it-are-necessary-to/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Any Government strong enough to give you what you want, is a Government strong enough to take everything you have!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/any-government-strong-enough-to-give-you-what-you-want-is-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We don't need a weakened government but a strong government that would take responsibility for the rights of the individual and care for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/we-don-t-need-a-weakened-government-but-a-strong-government-that/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [We believe in a government strong enough to use words like "love" and "compassion" and smart enough to convert our noblest aspirations into practical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/we-believe-in-a-government-strong-enough-to-use-words-like-love-and/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [I can describe, and I've always been able to describe, what Republicans stand for in eight words, and the eight words are lower taxes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-dorgan/i-can-describe-and-i-ve-always-been-able-to-describe-what-republicans/) [Byron Dorgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-dorgan/) > [Must a government be too strong for the liberties of its people or too weak to maintain its own existence?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/must-a-government-be-too-strong-for-the-liberties-of-its-people-or/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [It is the government's strong desire to empower this fabric, this social fabric of our society where faith-based programs large and small feel empowered,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-the-government-s-strong-desire-to-empower-this-fabric-this/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [China's government is so strong on investment, so strong on exporting, but they're too weak on domestic consumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/china-s-government-is-so-strong-on-investment-so-strong-on-exporting/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [And now, what has Anarchism to say to all this, this bankruptcy of republicanism, this modern empire that has grown up on the ruins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltairine-de-cleyre/and-now-what-has-anarchism-to-say-to-all-this-this-bankruptcy-of/) [Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltairine-de-cleyre/) > [I thought the irreducible requirements of Republicanism were being for life, small government, and a strong national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/i-thought-the-irreducible-requirements-of-republicanism-were-being/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) ## More by Franklin D. Roosevelt > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Inquisitiveness is the most useful talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/inquisitiveness-is-the-most-useful-talent/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > ['Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-democracy-must-cling-to-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I have seen war ... I hate war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-hate-war/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-have-seen-war-on-land-and-sea-i-have-seen-blood/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [All of our people all over the country-except the pure-blooded Indians-are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/all-of-our-people-all-over-the-country-except-the-pure-blooded/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [They have given their sons to the military services. They have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels. They have made the planes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/they-have-given-their-sons-to-the-military-services-they-have-stoked/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [On the European Front the most important development of the past year has been the crushing offensive of the Great Armies of Russia...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/on-the-european-front-the-most-important-development-of-the-past-year/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The core of our defense is the faith we have in the institutions we defend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-core-of-our-defense-is-the-faith-we-have-in-the-institutions-we/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [War is a contagion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/war-is-a-contagion/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Labor Day symbolizes our determination to achieve an economic freedom for the average man which will give his political freedom realty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/labor-day-symbolizes-our-determination-to-achieve-an-economic-freedom/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Too often in recent history liberal governments have been wrecked on rocks of loose fiscal policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/too-often-in-recent-history-liberal-governments-have-been-wrecked-on/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The frontier of America is on the Rhine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-frontier-of-america-is-on-the-rhine/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/repetition-does-not-transform-a-lie-into-a-truth/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The future lies with those wise political leaders who realize that the great public is interested more in Government than in politics. The growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-future-lies-with-those-wise-political-leaders-who-realize-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) [Explore all 521 Franklin D. Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## More Continuing quotes > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [It's important to recognize that expanding the circle of opportunity and increasing the democratic potential of our own society, as well as those across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-s-important-to-recognize-that-expanding-the-circle-of-opportunity/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Further conceive, I beg, that a stone, while continuing in motion, should be capable of thinking and knowing, that it is endeavoring, as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/further-conceive-i-beg-that-a-stone-while-continuing-in-motion-should/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I dream of continuing to dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/i-dream-of-continuing-to-dream/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [I describe family values as responsibility towards others, increase of tolerance, compromise, support, flexibility. And essentially the things I call the silent song of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-minuchin/i-describe-family-values-as-responsibility-towards-others-increase-of/) [Salvador Minuchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-minuchin/) > [You can measure a programmer's perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of FORTRAN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/you-can-measure-a-programmer-s-perspective-by-noting-his-attitude-on/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [What business needs now is exactly what women are able to provide, and at the very time when women are surging into the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-helgesen/what-business-needs-now-is-exactly-what-women-are-able-to-provide-and/) [Sally Helgesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-helgesen/) > [The deepest courage we can exercise is continuing to believe in our dreams until we make them come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-deepest-courage-we-can-exercise-is-continuing-to-believe-in-our/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [It's very easy for me to say what success is. I think success is connecting with an audience who understands you and having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-s-very-easy-for-me-to-say-what-success-is-i-think-success-is/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [People often say that humans have always eaten animals, as if this is a justification for continuing the practice. According to this logic, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/people-often-say-that-humans-have-always-eaten-animals-as-if-this-is/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [A child-like man is not a man whose development has been arrested; on the contrary, he is a man who has given himself a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/a-child-like-man-is-not-a-man-whose-development-has-been-arrested-on/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Put simply, the Bush administration policy in the Middle East is continuing to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-corsi/put-simply-the-bush-administration-policy-in-the-middle-east-is/) [Jerome Corsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-corsi/) > [Faith implies a continuing search, not necessarily a final answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/faith-implies-a-continuing-search-not-necessarily-a-final-answer/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [It is evident, indeed, that such a doctrine, taken by itself in a literal manner, had no future. The world, in continuing to exist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/it-is-evident-indeed-that-such-a-doctrine-taken-by-itself-in-a/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [For women who do not love us, as for the "disappeared", knowing that we no longer have any hope does not prevent us form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/for-women-who-do-not-love-us-as-for-the-disappeared-knowing-that-we/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) [Browse all 782 Continuing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continuing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over the government.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franklin D. 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