--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that the Government's first…" description: "\"I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate.\" — Gordon Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/gordon-smith-19186_believe_i-believe-that-the-government-s-first-du_2848268.png" --- # I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend… ![“I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate.” quote by Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/gordon-smith-19186_believe_i-believe-that-the-government-s-first-du_2848268.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/gordon-smith-19186_believe_i-believe-that-the-government-s-first-du_2848268.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/gordon-smith-19186_believe_i-believe-that-the-government-s-first-du_2848268.png) > “I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate.” [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The primary role of government is to protect citizens from hate‑driven harm. **In simple terms:** Government should safeguard people from hate. Key Takeaway Support policies that counter hate. Themes government protection hate citizen duty Mood serious concerned Type political ethical When to use this quote - public policy - community safety - legislation Key Concepts social contract human rights Questions to Reflect On - How should governments balance security and freedom? - What actions can citizens take to reduce hate? A Different Perspective Balancing security with civil liberties is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Citizens Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-defend-3774828/) [Defend Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend-citizens-981689/) [Defend Harms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend-harms-3774829/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Duty Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty-defend-2322873/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-duty-251751/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) ## Related quotes > [A government which can protect and defend its citizens from wrong and outrage and does not is vicious. A government which would do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-harper/a-government-which-can-protect-and-defend-its-citizens-from-wrong-and/) [Frances Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-harper/) > [When we were attacked militarily it was our duty to defend our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arseniy-yatsenyuk/when-we-were-attacked-militarily-it-was-our-duty-to-defend-our-country/) [Arseniy Yatsenyuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arseniy-yatsenyuk/) > [It is our duty to defend the Haitian community, just as we defend the Muslim, Jewish, LGBTQ, Women, African American, Asian, Latino, Native American,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-n-green/it-is-our-duty-to-defend-the-haitian-community-just-as-we-defend-the/) [Al N. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-n-green/) > [As attorney general, I have a duty to defend the laws and constitution of the State of Missouri.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/as-attorney-general-i-have-a-duty-to-defend-the-laws-and-constitution/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [We're going to have to make it clear that we don't want to use the kinds of tools that we have. We don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-re-going-to-have-to-make-it-clear-that-we-don-t-want-to-use-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We do not want war, but we are ready to defend our citizens, our soldiers, and our sovereignty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoav-gallant/we-do-not-want-war-but-we-are-ready-to-defend-our-citizens-our/) [Yoav Gallant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoav-gallant/) > [When disaster strikes, our prime objective is to save the maximum number of people. As the person heading the government, my duty is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pinarayi-vijayan/when-disaster-strikes-our-prime-objective-is-to-save-the-maximum/) [Pinarayi Vijayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pinarayi-vijayan/) > [No duty is more imperative for the government than the duty it ;owes the people to furnish them with a sound and uniform currency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/no-duty-is-more-imperative-for-the-government-than-the-duty-it-owes/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ “Any government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship's captain has to avoid a shipwreck." \[ On Water \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/any-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to-avoid-war-as-a-ship-s-captain/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [Every government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship's captain has to avoid a shipwreck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/every-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to-avoid-war-as-a-ship-s/) [Guy De Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [The government's duty is to support basic sciences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasuku-honjo/the-government-s-duty-is-to-support-basic-sciences/) [Tasuku Honjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasuku-honjo/) > [We've gone astray from first principles. We've lost sight of the rule that individual freedom and ingenuity are at the very core of everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-ve-gone-astray-from-first-principles-we-ve-lost-sight-of-the-rule/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Every good government's duty is to do more for the regions that are underdeveloped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-shah/every-good-government-s-duty-is-to-do-more-for-the-regions-that-are/) [Amit Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-shah/) > [A good government is one with a duty to help everyone, to maximise his or her potential: Indigenous people, people with disabilities, and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-mundine/a-good-government-is-one-with-a-duty-to-help-everyone-to-maximise-his/) [Warren Mundine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-mundine/) > [Government's first duty and highest obligation is public safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/government-s-first-duty-and-highest-obligation-is-public-safety/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) ## More by Gordon Smith > [I wish there were a healthier Republican Party in the state of Oregon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/i-wish-there-were-a-healthier-republican-party-in-the-state-of-oregon/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) > [My neighbor is now an 18-wheeler who comes by here 1,000 times a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/my-neighbor-is-now-an-18-wheeler-who-comes-by-here-1-000-times-a-day/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) > [I have concluded that the U.N. can do a few things well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/i-have-concluded-that-the-u-n-can-do-a-few-things-well/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) > [My mother always said, 'The best way to ruin a story is to tell the other side.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/my-mother-always-said-the-best-way-to-ruin-a-story-is-to-tell-the/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) > [On issues carrying as much emotional freight as race - and there aren't many - a U.S. senator needs to speak with care and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/on-issues-carrying-as-much-emotional-freight-as-race-and-there-aren-t/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) > [The American people are being victimized more than any free market would warrant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/the-american-people-are-being-victimized-more-than-any-free-market/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) > [Lawmakers have good reason to want a healthy broadcast industry. Broadcast TV stations provide more than 186,000 jobs on an annual basis, which directly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/lawmakers-have-good-reason-to-want-a-healthy-broadcast-industry/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) > [I do not know that there is a more certain sound than Senator Kennedy. I cannot imagine a more uncertain sound than Senator Kerry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/i-do-not-know-that-there-is-a-more-certain-sound-than-senator-kennedy/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) > [In my day, the players used to work their socks off. It's all changed now, obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/in-my-day-the-players-used-to-work-their-socks-off-it-s-all-changed/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) > [“Spirits exist in a higher state of emotional awareness and that's why they seem much wiser than they were in their time in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/spirits-exist-in-a-higher-state-of-emotional-awareness-and-that-s-why/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) > [Local television is still the No. 1 source for news and part of the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/local-television-is-still-the-no-1-source-for-news-and-part-of-the/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) > [We have some control over when we retire. However, we have very little control over how long we will live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/we-have-some-control-over-when-we-retire-however-we-have-very-little/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) > [As a Republican, I voted with President Clinton consistently in our efforts to bail out our European friends in Kosovo to stop genocide. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/as-a-republican-i-voted-with-president-clinton-consistently-in-our/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) > [Broadcasting's best days lie ahead as both an engine of local economies and as an integral part of tomorrow's technological world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/broadcasting-s-best-days-lie-ahead-as-both-an-engine-of-local/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) > [The people who depend on an antenna are often those who are underprivileged - the elderly and the disadvantaged who can't afford a $200-a-month…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/the-people-who-depend-on-an-antenna-are-often-those-who-are/) [Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) [Explore all 33 Gordon Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gordon Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/i-believe-that-the-government-s-first-duty-is-to-defend-its-citizens/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/i-believe-that-the-government-s-first-duty-is-to-defend-its-citizens/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/gordon-smith-19186_believe_i-believe-that-the-government-s-first-du_2848268.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/gordon-smith-19186_believe_i-believe-that-the-government-s-first-du_2848268.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/gordon-smith-19186_believe_i-believe-that-the-government-s-first-du_2848268.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that…” — Gordon Smith", "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": "Gordon Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I believe that the Government's first...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/i-believe-that-the-government-s-first-duty-is-to-defend-its-citizens/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/i-believe-that-the-government-s-first-duty-is-to-defend-its-citizens/#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 } } ] } ```