--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No kingdom can be secured otherwise than…" description: "\"No kingdom can be secured otherwise than by arming the people. The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a slave. He, who has not..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/499/james-burgh-37288_arms_no-kingdom-can-be-secured-otherwise-than_1801353.jpg" --- # No kingdom can be secured otherwise than by arming the… ![“No kingdom can be secured otherwise than by arming the people. The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a slave. He, who has nothing, and who himself belongs to another, must be defended by him, whose property he is, and needs no arms. But he, who thinks he is his own…” quote by James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/499/james-burgh-37288_arms_no-kingdom-can-be-secured-otherwise-than_1801353.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/499/james-burgh-37288_arms_no-kingdom-can-be-secured-otherwise-than_1801353.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/499/james-burgh-37288_arms_no-kingdom-can-be-secured-otherwise-than_1801353.jpg) > “No kingdom can be secured otherwise than by arming the people. The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a slave. He, who has nothing, and who himself belongs to another, must be defended by him, whose property he is, and needs no arms. But he, who thinks he is his own master, and has what he can call his own, ought to have arms to defend himself, and what he possesses; else he lives precariously, and at discretion.” [James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Arming citizens is essential for liberty; without weapons, individuals are vulnerable to oppression and cannot protect their property. **In simple terms:** People need arms to protect freedom and property. Key Takeaway Ensure the right to self‑defense is upheld. Themes freedom self‑defense political rights Mood thoughtful serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - defending personal property - resisting tyranny - civil unrest - political debate Key Concepts citizen militia property rights state power Questions to Reflect On - Is universal armament a practical solution to oppression? - How can societies balance safety and the right to bear arms? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bearing arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bearing-arms/) [Discretion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretion/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Gun control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun-control/) [Gun rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun-rights/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Right to bear arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-bear-arms/) [Rights and freedoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-and-freedoms/) [Second amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-amendment/) [Self defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-defense/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [No Kingdom can be secured otherwise than by arming the people. The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burgh/no-kingdom-can-be-secured-otherwise-than-by-arming-the-people-the/) [James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) > [“The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a slave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burgh/the-possession-of-arms-is-the-distinction-between-a-freeman-and-a/) [James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) > [Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/before-a-standing-army-can-rule-the-people-must-be-disarmed-as-they/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation… Notwithstanding the military establishments in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/besides-the-advantage-of-being-armed-which-the-americans-possess-over/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The right of citizens to bear arms is just one guarantee against arbitrary government, one more safeguard against the tyranny which now appears remote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/the-right-of-citizens-to-bear-arms-is-just-one-guarantee-against/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/that-the-said-constitution-shall-never-be-construed-to-authorize/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [To disarm the people... was the best and most effectual way to enslave them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/to-disarm-the-people-was-the-best-and-most-effectual-way-to-enslave/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [If gun laws in fact worked, the sponsors of this type of legislation should have no difficulty drawing upon long lists of examples of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/if-gun-laws-in-fact-worked-the-sponsors-of-this-type-of-legislation/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [The laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Can it be supposed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-beccaria/the-laws-that-forbid-the-carrying-of-arms-disarm-only-those-who-are/) [Cesare Beccaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-beccaria/) > [We can't be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/we-can-t-be-so-fixated-on-our-desire-to-preserve-the-rights-of/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/laws-that-forbid-the-carrying-of-arms-disarm-only-those-who-are-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/for-an-unarmed-man-may-be-attacked-with-greater-confidence-than-an/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-country-can-preserve-its-liberties-if-its-rulers-are-not-warned/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize,... The people are confirmed by the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tench-coxe/as-civil-rulers-not-having-their-duty-to-the-people-duly-before-them/) [Tench Coxe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tench-coxe/) > [Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/laws-that-forbid-the-carrying-of-arms-disarm-only-those-who-are/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by James Burgh > [If a favour is asked of you, grant it if you can. If not, refuse it in such a manner as that one denial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burgh/if-a-favour-is-asked-of-you-grant-it-if-you-can-if-not-refuse-it-in/) [James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) > […there is no end to observations on the difference between the measures likely to be pursued by a minister backed by a standing army,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burgh/there-is-no-end-to-observations-on-the-difference-between-the/) [James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) > [“let your aim be to come at truth, not to conquer your opponent. So you never shall be at a loss in losing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burgh/let-your-aim-be-to-come-at-truth-not-to-conquer-your-opponent-so-you/) [James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) > [If you would not have affliction visit you twice, listen at once to what it teaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burgh/if-you-would-not-have-affliction-visit-you-twice-listen-at-once-to/) [James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) > [“The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a slave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burgh/the-possession-of-arms-is-the-distinction-between-a-freeman-and-a/) [James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) > [No Kingdom can be secured otherwise than by arming the people. The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burgh/no-kingdom-can-be-secured-otherwise-than-by-arming-the-people-the/) [James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) > [If you have a friend that will reprove your faults and foibles, consider you enjoy a blessing which the king upon the throne cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burgh/if-you-have-a-friend-that-will-reprove-your-faults-and-foibles/) [James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) > [In prosperity prepare for a change; in adversity hope for one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burgh/in-prosperity-prepare-for-a-change-in-adversity-hope-for-one/) [James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) > [Yesterday for contemplation, today for action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burgh/yesterday-for-contemplation-today-for-action/) [James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) > [In disputes upon moral or scientific points, ever let your aim be to come at truth, not to conquer your opponent. So you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burgh/in-disputes-upon-moral-or-scientific-points-ever-let-your-aim-be-to/) [James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) > [All lawful authority, legislative, and executive, originates from the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burgh/all-lawful-authority-legislative-and-executive-originates-from-the/) [James Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) [Explore all 12 James Burgh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burgh/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No kingdom can be secured otherwise than by arming the people. The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a slave. He, who has nothing, and who himself belongs to another, must be defended by him, whose property he is, and needs no arms. 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