--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If citizens wish to retain their liberty…" description: "\"If citizens wish to retain their liberty, they cannot assume that those who seek power over them are honest. Skepticism of government is one of the mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/james-bovard-9090_assuming_if-citizens-wish-to-retain-their-liberty_2809501.png" --- # If citizens wish to retain their liberty, they cannot… ![“If citizens wish to retain their liberty, they cannot assume that those who seek power over them are honest. Skepticism of government is one of the most important-and most forgotten-bulwarks of freedom.” quote by James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/james-bovard-9090_assuming_if-citizens-wish-to-retain-their-liberty_2809501.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/james-bovard-9090_assuming_if-citizens-wish-to-retain-their-liberty_2809501.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/james-bovard-9090_assuming_if-citizens-wish-to-retain-their-liberty_2809501.png) > “If citizens wish to retain their liberty, they cannot assume that those who seek power over them are honest. Skepticism of government is one of the most important-and most forgotten-bulwarks of freedom.” [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Citizens must stay skeptical of those in power because honesty cannot be guaranteed, and vigilance protects liberty. **In simple terms:** Question authority to protect freedom. Key Takeaway Never trust power blindly. Themes freedom skepticism government citizenship Mood cautious reflective Type political advice When to use this quote - voting - activism - community organizing - media consumption - public discourse Key Concepts political philosophy civic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify the honesty of leaders? - What habits keep you politically informed? A Different Perspective Skepticism alone cannot replace concrete reforms or accountability mechanisms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgotten/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-important-251749/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-skepticism-1171983/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Retain Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retain-liberty-3509557/) [Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skepticism/) [Skepticism Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skepticism-government-1347311/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [What Reagan ushered in was a skepticism toward government solutions to every problem. I don't think that has changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-reagan-ushered-in-was-a-skepticism-toward-government-solutions/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I would advise persisting in our struggle for liberty, though it were revealed from Heaven that nine hundred and ninety-nine men were to perish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/i-would-advise-persisting-in-our-struggle-for-liberty-though-it-were/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [“Having faith in the existence of the paranormal, like faith in anything, means believing that it can stand up to honest skepticism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-buell/having-faith-in-the-existence-of-the-paranormal-like-faith-in/) [Ryan Buell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-buell/) > [“Anti-government rhetoric appears to offer a vision of greater efficiency, self-reliance, and personal freedom. (For obvious reasons, it also usually enjoys greater financial backing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/anti-government-rhetoric-appears-to-offer-a-vision-of-greater/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [The strongest continuous thread in America's political tradition is skepticism about government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-strongest-continuous-thread-in-america-s-political-tradition-is/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [A majority of Americans support Social Security and Medicare, a progressive tax system and a government that regulates business in the public interest, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-davidson/a-majority-of-americans-support-social-security-and-medicare-a/) [Adam Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-davidson/) > [All in all, I am not surprised that the people who want to unravel the social contract start with young adults. Those who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/all-in-all-i-am-not-surprised-that-the-people-who-want-to-unravel-the/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [Members of Congress concerned about human rights in Vietnam are right to maintain a healthy skepticism about its government's intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-malinowski/members-of-congress-concerned-about-human-rights-in-vietnam-are-right/) [Tom Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-malinowski/) > [In my view, as a country we need to rediscover some of that skepticism about government and revisit that libertarian agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kennedy/in-my-view-as-a-country-we-need-to-rediscover-some-of-that-skepticism/) [Charles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kennedy/) > [I would say to the people of Queensland, and to all listeners around the country, is that if you want stable government in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brandis/i-would-say-to-the-people-of-queensland-and-to-all-listeners-around/) [George Brandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brandis/) > [Every decision in government is so important, especially when it comes to the military where thousands of people can lose their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/every-decision-in-government-is-so-important-especially-when-it-comes/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [At a time of pervasive cynicism about our government, it is more important than ever to invest in restoring confidence in our democracy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laphonza-butler/at-a-time-of-pervasive-cynicism-about-our-government-it-is-more/) [Laphonza Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laphonza-butler/) > [“It is a feature of government that the more important the problem, the further it tends to be removed from handling by anyone well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/it-is-a-feature-of-government-that-the-more-important-the-problem-the/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [In the government, we have a very important responsibility to protect the rights of our pastors and religious leaders. They have the freedom to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-daines/in-the-government-we-have-a-very-important-responsibility-to-protect/) [Steve Daines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-daines/) > [I mean, on virtually every major issue before this country that is the natural purview of the federal government, it's important to have some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-mean-on-virtually-every-major-issue-before-this-country-that-is-the/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) ## More by James Bovard > [Some of the folks on both sides might be sincere, but it does seem as if it is only the opposition that cares about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/some-of-the-folks-on-both-sides-might-be-sincere-but-it-does-seem-as/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [The vision that the founding fathers had of rule of law and equality before the law and no one above the law, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/the-vision-that-the-founding-fathers-had-of-rule-of-law-and-equality/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [People are so docile right now. It is almost as if good government means when the politicians lie to us for our own good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/people-are-so-docile-right-now-it-is-almost-as-if-good-government/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [It is important to recognize and politics positive thinking is often the slaves' virtue - something that people do to con themselves about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/it-is-important-to-recognize-and-politics-positive-thinking-is-often/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [If so many Americans are looking for the government to save them, then it is hard to have a dignified search for a shepherd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/if-so-many-americans-are-looking-for-the-government-to-save-them-then/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [Its contempt for citizens ... is so routine, and so unlimited, that the agency has become a kind of Frankenstein, running wild and terrorizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/its-contempt-for-citizens-is-so-routine-and-so-unlimited-that-the/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [The key question for many voters is: How much is the candidate offering for my vote?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/the-key-question-for-many-voters-is-how-much-is-the-candidate/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [The Federal Government is exploiting public fear to redefine the relationship between the rulers and the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/the-federal-government-is-exploiting-public-fear-to-redefine-the/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [Once freedom is equated with a certain material standard of living, confiscation becomes the path to liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/once-freedom-is-equated-with-a-certain-material-standard-of-living/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [Government aid programs have been endlessly expanded, and the government has sought to maximize the number of people willing to accept handouts… Roughly half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/government-aid-programs-have-been-endlessly-expanded-and-the/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [America needs fewer laws, not more prisons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/america-needs-fewer-laws-not-more-prisons/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [The more freedoms Americans lose, the more dangerous government becomes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/the-more-freedoms-americans-lose-the-more-dangerous-government-becomes/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [The more powerful government becomes, the more abuses it commits and the more lies it must tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/the-more-powerful-government-becomes-the-more-abuses-it-commits-and/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [Not only has the number of government employees multiplied in recent decades, but the rise of government unions further stacks the political odds against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/not-only-has-the-number-of-government-employees-multiplied-in-recent/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [How many McDonald's gift certificates would it take to sway a lot of Americans to pledge to never publicly criticize the U.S, President?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/how-many-mcdonald-s-gift-certificates-would-it-take-to-sway-a-lot-of/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) [Explore all 75 James Bovard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [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/) > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If citizens wish to retain their liberty, they cannot assume that those who seek power over them are honest. Skepticism of government is one of the most important-and most forgotten-bulwarks of freedom.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Bovard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/if-citizens-wish-to-retain-their-liberty-they-cannot-assume-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assuming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/if-citizens-wish-to-retain-their-liberty-they-cannot-assume-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/james-bovard-9090_assuming_if-citizens-wish-to-retain-their-liberty_2809501.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/james-bovard-9090_assuming_if-citizens-wish-to-retain-their-liberty_2809501.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/james-bovard-9090_assuming_if-citizens-wish-to-retain-their-liberty_2809501.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If citizens wish to retain their liberty, they cannot assume that those who seek power over them are honest…” — James Bovard", "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": "James Bovard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If citizens wish to retain their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/if-citizens-wish-to-retain-their-liberty-they-cannot-assume-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/if-citizens-wish-to-retain-their-liberty-they-cannot-assume-that/#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 } } ] } ```