--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who serve in our armed forces do so…" description: "\"Those who serve in our armed forces do so from a profound sense of duty to secure liberty for their fellow Americans. They enlist to serve their fellow..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a45/joe-lonsdale-6699_armed-forces_those-who-serve-in-our-armed-forces-do-s_1160526.jpg" --- # Those who serve in our armed forces do so from a profound… ![“Those who serve in our armed forces do so from a profound sense of duty to secure liberty for their fellow Americans. They enlist to serve their fellow citizens who express their will through elected representatives, not an unaccountable defense establishment.” quote by Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a45/joe-lonsdale-6699_armed-forces_those-who-serve-in-our-armed-forces-do-s_1160526.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a45/joe-lonsdale-6699_armed-forces_those-who-serve-in-our-armed-forces-do-s_1160526.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a45/joe-lonsdale-6699_armed-forces_those-who-serve-in-our-armed-forces-do-s_1160526.jpg) > “Those who serve in our armed forces do so from a profound sense of duty to secure liberty for their fellow Americans. They enlist to serve their fellow citizens who express their will through elected representatives, not an unaccountable defense establishment.” [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Service in the military is driven by duty to protect freedom for citizens, not by an unchecked defense bureaucracy. **In simple terms:** Military service stems from duty to protect liberty. Key Takeaway Serve with purpose, not for power. Themes duty liberty citizen service military Mood respectful patriotic Type political inspirational When to use this quote - defending nation - enlisting - public policy - community protection Key Concepts civic responsibility civil-military relations Questions to Reflect On - What does duty mean to you? - How can civilian oversight improve military accountability? A Different Perspective May overlook individual motivations or dissenting views. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Americans Enlist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-enlist-3319901/) [Armed forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed-forces/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Enlist Serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlist-serve-3319902/) [Fellow citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-citizens/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound/) [Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense/) [Sense Of Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-duty/) [Serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serve/) [Serve Armed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serve-armed-1129564/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [Word to the Nation: Guard zealously your right to serve in the Armed Forces, for without them, there will be no other rights to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/word-to-the-nation-guard-zealously-your-right-to-serve-in-the-armed/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [The brave men and women who have served - and those who continue to serve - our armed forces have selflessly sacrificed for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/the-brave-men-and-women-who-have-served-and-those-who-continue-to/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [The men and women who serve in the armed forces are great role models.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stewart/the-men-and-women-who-serve-in-the-armed-forces-are-great-role-models/) [Corey Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stewart/) > [Americans who serve in the armed forces risk everything to defend our country. When they sacrifice their health or their very lives in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/americans-who-serve-in-the-armed-forces-risk-everything-to-defend-our/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [I agree with the basic principle that anybody who wants to serve in our armed forces and make sacrifices on our behalf, on behalf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-agree-with-the-basic-principle-that-anybody-who-wants-to-serve-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I hurry to express to you and your fellow citizens my profound sorrow and my closeness in prayer for the nation at this dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/i-hurry-to-express-to-you-and-your-fellow-citizens-my-profound-sorrow/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration, will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance, or insignificance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/fellow-citizens-we-cannot-escape-history-we-of-this-congress-and-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/fellow-citizens-we-cannot-escape-history/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We need leaders who are willing to stand up, drive the debate, and commit our fellow citizens to action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-moulton/we-need-leaders-who-are-willing-to-stand-up-drive-the-debate-and/) [Seth Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-moulton/) > [We have the incredible privilege of serving in the highest offices in the state. We must prove ourselves worthy of our fellow citizens' faith.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-rell/we-have-the-incredible-privilege-of-serving-in-the-highest-offices-in/) [Jodi Rell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-rell/) > [When an American asks for the cooperation of his fellow citizens, it is seldom refused; and I have often seen it afforded spontaneously and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/when-an-american-asks-for-the-cooperation-of-his-fellow-citizens-it/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Whites, like ourselves, belong to our country. They are compatriots, fellow citizens... we see them as Africans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/whites-like-ourselves-belong-to-our-country-they-are-compatriots/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [We reaffirm that on days like this, there are no Republicans or Democrats. We are Americans, united in concern for our fellow citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-reaffirm-that-on-days-like-this-there-are-no-republicans-or/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/almighty-god-we-make-our-earnest-prayer-that-thou-wilt-incline-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [In conclusion I congratulate you, my fellow-citizens, upon the high state of prosperity to which the goodness of Divine Providence has conducted our common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-taylor/in-conclusion-i-congratulate-you-my-fellow-citizens-upon-the-high/) [Zachary Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-taylor/) ## More by Joe Lonsdale > [I am not by any means a philosopher, although I have worked with some talented people in the discipline. But certain philosophical concepts deeply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/i-am-not-by-any-means-a-philosopher-although-i-have-worked-with-some/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [America faces a mounting transportation crisis, and the primary culprit is road congestion. Traffic makes us unhealthy, wastes enormous amounts of time, and cripples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/america-faces-a-mounting-transportation-crisis-and-the-primary/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [Savvy, competitive investors able to build, buy, and fix companies will continue to stimulate growth by allowing us to do more with less -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/savvy-competitive-investors-able-to-build-buy-and-fix-companies-will/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [I believe we live in a positive sum world and wealth isn't just taken or moved around; it's mostly created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/i-believe-we-live-in-a-positive-sum-world-and-wealth-isn-t-just-taken/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [Great leaders inspire incredible loyalty in their followers and subordinates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/great-leaders-inspire-incredible-loyalty-in-their-followers-and/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [There's no substitute for experiencing ups and downs - seeing how it's okay that things are overwhelming or broken sometimes and how companies recover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/there-s-no-substitute-for-experiencing-ups-and-downs-seeing-how-it-s/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [Entrepreneurship is, in large part, about building something from nothing, which means creating a cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/entrepreneurship-is-in-large-part-about-building-something-from/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [Engineering talent is the most precious resource for any technology company - Palantir and Addepar are successful first and foremost because of their top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/engineering-talent-is-the-most-precious-resource-for-any-technology/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [Palantir owes much of its success to the amazing talent of the first 30-40 technologists who joined the company, as well as to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/palantir-owes-much-of-its-success-to-the-amazing-talent-of-the-first/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [The inability of middle-class people to receive loans in developing countries has had a stifling effect on economic growth and prosperity around the globe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/the-inability-of-middle-class-people-to-receive-loans-in-developing/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [My experiences building Palantir and running Addepar made me aware of serious problems with government and inspired me to build a non-profit to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/my-experiences-building-palantir-and-running-addepar-made-me-aware-of/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [Being able to access that Stanford alumni network was huge - I actually interned at PayPal while I was at Stanford and learned a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/being-able-to-access-that-stanford-alumni-network-was-huge-i-actually/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [CEOs shouldn't worry about their budget all the time - on a day-to-day basis, they should work on managing their company, building an awesome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/ceos-shouldn-t-worry-about-their-budget-all-the-time-on-a-day-to-day/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [What would I advise an aspiring young entrepreneur? Certainly I'd say read the works of great entrepreneurs and investors like Ben Horowitz, Peter Thiel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/what-would-i-advise-an-aspiring-young-entrepreneur-certainly-i-d-say/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [Engineering is the art of managing scarcity - it's easy to design and build a massive bridge that will last forever if cost is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/engineering-is-the-art-of-managing-scarcity-it-s-easy-to-design-and/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) [Explore all 98 Joe Lonsdale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) ## More Armed forces quotes > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [Recruitment and retention are critical to sustain our Armed Forces with the best men and women willing to stand in the gap and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/recruitment-and-retention-are-critical-to-sustain-our-armed-forces/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My father was in the military; he was a captain. His service was to quote-unquote integrate the Armed Forces overseas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/my-father-was-in-the-military-he-was-a-captain-his-service-was-to/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe that the Armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-pace/i-believe-that-homosexual-acts-between-individuals-are-immoral-and/) [Peter Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-pace/) > [“The highest ranking Russian intelligence officer to defect from Russia, Stanislav Lunev, testified at a Congressional hearing held in California in January, 2000. Before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/the-highest-ranking-russian-intelligence-officer-to-defect-from/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [A colonial war is a very dirty kind of war. You're not fighting armed forces. You're fighting mostly unarmed people. And to fight that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/a-colonial-war-is-a-very-dirty-kind-of-war-you-re-not-fighting-armed/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Scotland forms a crucial part of our Armed Forces which should not be jeopardised by rushed cuts or a rush to the exit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-hammond/scotland-forms-a-crucial-part-of-our-armed-forces-which-should-not-be/) [Philip Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-hammond/) > [The people of Iraq are grateful for what the people of the United States of America and our armed forces and our coalition forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-isakson/the-people-of-iraq-are-grateful-for-what-the-people-of-the-united/) [Johnny Isakson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-isakson/) > [I have deep respect for our armed forces and jawans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-kumaraswamy/i-have-deep-respect-for-our-armed-forces-and-jawans/) [H. D. Kumaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-kumaraswamy/) > [“The ultimate objective of all military operations is the destruction of the enemy’s armed forces and his will to fight.”\* This sums up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/the-ultimate-objective-of-all-military-operations-is-the-destruction/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [Relations between States, as between individuals, must be regulated not by armed force, but in accordance with...truth, justice and vigorous and sincere co-operation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-xxiii/relations-between-states-as-between-individuals-must-be-regulated-not/) [Pope John XXIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-xxiii/) > [Word to the Nation: Guard zealously your right to serve in the Armed Forces, for without them, there will be no other rights to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/word-to-the-nation-guard-zealously-your-right-to-serve-in-the-armed/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [If Congress grants permission, I would put armed forces in the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jair-bolsonaro/if-congress-grants-permission-i-would-put-armed-forces-in-the-streets/) [Jair Bolsonaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jair-bolsonaro/) > [To lead uninstructed people to war is to throw them away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-lead-uninstructed-people-to-war-is-to-throw-them-away/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Americans will forever be proud of the brave men and women of our armed forces who served in World War II, and we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/americans-will-forever-be-proud-of-the-brave-men-and-women-of-our/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) [Browse all 342 Armed forces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed-forces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Those who serve in our armed forces do so from a profound sense of duty to secure liberty for their fellow Americans. They enlist to serve their fellow citizens who express their will through elected representatives, not an unaccountable defense establishment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joe Lonsdale" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/those-who-serve-in-our-armed-forces-do-so-from-a-profound-sense-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Armed forces" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/those-who-serve-in-our-armed-forces-do-so-from-a-profound-sense-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a45/joe-lonsdale-6699_armed-forces_those-who-serve-in-our-armed-forces-do-s_1160526.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a45/joe-lonsdale-6699_armed-forces_those-who-serve-in-our-armed-forces-do-s_1160526.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a45/joe-lonsdale-6699_armed-forces_those-who-serve-in-our-armed-forces-do-s_1160526.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those who serve in our armed forces do so from a profound sense of duty to secure liberty for their fellow…” — Joe Lonsdale", "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": "Joe Lonsdale", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Those who serve in our armed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/those-who-serve-in-our-armed-forces-do-so-from-a-profound-sense-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/those-who-serve-in-our-armed-forces-do-so-from-a-profound-sense-of/#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 } } ] } ```