--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it was wise, manly, and patriotic for…" description: "\"If it was wise, manly, and patriotic for us to establish a free government, it is equally wise to attend to the necessary means of its preservation.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/james-monroe-11373_free-government_if-it-was-wise-manly-and-patriotic-for-u_1309934.jpg" --- # If it was wise, manly, and patriotic for us to establish a… ![“If it was wise, manly, and patriotic for us to establish a free government, it is equally wise to attend to the necessary means of its preservation.” quote by James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/james-monroe-11373_free-government_if-it-was-wise-manly-and-patriotic-for-u_1309934.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/james-monroe-11373_free-government_if-it-was-wise-manly-and-patriotic-for-u_1309934.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/james-monroe-11373_free-government_if-it-was-wise-manly-and-patriotic-for-u_1309934.jpg) > “If it was wise, manly, and patriotic for us to establish a free government, it is equally wise to attend to the necessary means of its preservation.” [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A free government requires both wise establishment and ongoing support of its essential resources. **In simple terms:** Freedom needs wise founding and continual upkeep. Key Takeaway Invest in maintaining the foundations of liberty. Themes politics citizenship responsibility Mood thoughtful serious Type political educational When to use this quote - public policy - community service - budget planning - defense readiness Key Concepts governance sustainability patriotism Questions to Reflect On - What resources are essential to preserve our freedoms? - How can citizens actively support governmental stability? A Different Perspective Neglecting maintenance can erode freedoms despite good foundations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Free government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-government/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Manly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manly/) [Patriotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotic/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preservation/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [“But though a Church of England man thinks every species of government equally lawful, he does not think them equally expedient; or for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/but-though-a-church-of-england-man-thinks-every-species-of-government/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Those who bear equally the burthens of Government should equally participate of its benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/those-who-bear-equally-the-burthens-of-government-should-equally/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Before God we are equally wise and equally foolish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/before-god-we-are-equally-wise-and-equally-foolish/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/before-god-we-are-all-equally-wise-and-equally-foolish/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I am, have been, shall always be, Light & Dark, in equal measure. A perfect balance of each, walking a Razor's Edge, feet bleeding,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/i-am-have-been-shall-always-be-light-dark-in-equal-measure-a-perfect/) [Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/) > [By this action, the Government has proved that so long as it exists, none of us are truly free. 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I deny their right to force a free State…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-douglas/i-deny-the-right-of-congress-to-force-a-slaveholding-state-upon-an/) [Stephen A. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-douglas/) > [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/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-in-the-opinion-of-the-people-the-distribution-or-modification-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/without-morals-a-republic-cannot-subsist-any-length-of-time-they/) Charles Carroll of Carrollton > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by James Monroe > [The principles and passions of men are always the same and lead to the same result, varying only according to the circumstances in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/the-principles-and-passions-of-men-are-always-the-same-and-lead-to/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [The crime of ingratitude has not yet stained, and I trust never will stain, our national character. You are considered by them as not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/the-crime-of-ingratitude-has-not-yet-stained-and-i-trust-never-will/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [If we look to the history of other nations, ancient or modern, we find no example of a growth so rapid, so gigantic, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/if-we-look-to-the-history-of-other-nations-ancient-or-modern-we-find/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [In the wars of the European powers in matters relating to themselves we have never taken any part, not does it comport with our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/in-the-wars-of-the-european-powers-in-matters-relating-to-themselves/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [The best form of government is that which is most likely to prevent the greatest sum of evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/the-best-form-of-government-is-that-which-is-most-likely-to-prevent/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/before-any-man-can-be-considered-as-a-member-of-civil-society-he-must/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [By the last returns to the Department of War the militia force of the several States may be estimated at 800,000 men - infantry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/by-the-last-returns-to-the-department-of-war-the-militia-force-of-the/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [In wars of the European powers in matters relating to themselves we have never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/in-wars-of-the-european-powers-in-matters-relating-to-themselves-we/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [Our relations with the other powers of Europe have experienced no essential change since the last session.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/our-relations-with-the-other-powers-of-europe-have-experienced-no/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [A free, virtuous, and enlightened people must know full well the great principles and causes upon which their happiness depends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/a-free-virtuous-and-enlightened-people-must-know-full-well-the-great/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [There is a price tag on human liberty. That price is the willingness to assume the responsibilities of being free men. Payment of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/there-is-a-price-tag-on-human-liberty-that-price-is-the-willingness/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [By these purchases the Indian title, with moderate reservations, has been extinguished to the whole of the land within the limits of the State…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/by-these-purchases-the-indian-title-with-moderate-reservations-has/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [I enter on the trust to which I have been called by the suffrages of my fellow-citizens with my fervent prayers to the Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/i-enter-on-the-trust-to-which-i-have-been-called-by-the-suffrages-of/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [The mention of Greece fills the mind with the most exalted sentiments and arouses in our bosoms the best feelings of which our nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/the-mention-of-greece-fills-the-mind-with-the-most-exalted-sentiments/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [How prone all human institutions have been to decay; how subject the best-formed and most wisely organized governments have been to lose their check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/how-prone-all-human-institutions-have-been-to-decay-how-subject-the/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) [Explore all 60 James Monroe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) ## More Free government quotes > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/without-morals-a-republic-cannot-subsist-any-length-of-time-they/) Charles Carroll of Carrollton > [If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-in-the-opinion-of-the-people-the-distribution-or-modification-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [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/) > [I deny the right of Congress to force a slaveholding State upon an unwilling people. I deny their right to force a free State…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-douglas/i-deny-the-right-of-congress-to-force-a-slaveholding-state-upon-an/) [Stephen A. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-douglas/) > [Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/religion-and-virtue-are-the-only-foundations-not-of-republicanism-and/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“For my part I consider the central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us of proving that popular government is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/for-my-part-i-consider-the-central-idea-pervading-this-struggle-is/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-opposed-to-any-form-of-tyranny-over-the-mind-of-man/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [By this action, the Government has proved that so long as it exists, none of us are truly free. Government and freedom are mutually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-barry/by-this-action-the-government-has-proved-that-so-long-as-it-exists/) [Max Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-barry/) > ['Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/tis-substantially-true-that-virtue-or-morality-is-a-necessary-spring/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It is all the more necessary under a system of free government that the people should be enlightened, that they should be correctly informed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/it-is-all-the-more-necessary-under-a-system-of-free-government-that/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Let one state in the U.S. be free of government and overnight you would have an economic powerhouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/let-one-state-in-the-u-s-be-free-of-government-and-overnight-you/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Can a free government possibly exist with the Roman Catholic religion?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/can-a-free-government-possibly-exist-with-the-roman-catholic-religion/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“The idea of freedom is complex and it is all-encompassing. It’s the idea that the economy must remain free of government persuasion. It’s the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-guillory/the-idea-of-freedom-is-complex-and-it-is-all-encompassing-it-s-the/) [Elbert Guillory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-guillory/) [Browse all 128 Free government quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-government/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If it was wise, manly, and patriotic for us to establish a free government, it is equally wise to attend to the necessary means of its preservation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Monroe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/if-it-was-wise-manly-and-patriotic-for-us-to-establish-a-free/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Free government" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/if-it-was-wise-manly-and-patriotic-for-us-to-establish-a-free/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/james-monroe-11373_free-government_if-it-was-wise-manly-and-patriotic-for-u_1309934.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/james-monroe-11373_free-government_if-it-was-wise-manly-and-patriotic-for-u_1309934.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/james-monroe-11373_free-government_if-it-was-wise-manly-and-patriotic-for-u_1309934.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If it was wise, manly, and patriotic for us to establish a free government, it is equally wise to attend to…” — James Monroe", "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 Monroe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If it was wise, manly, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/if-it-was-wise-manly-and-patriotic-for-us-to-establish-a-free/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/if-it-was-wise-manly-and-patriotic-for-us-to-establish-a-free/#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 } } ] } ```