--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is because the people are citizens…" description: "\"It is because the people are citizens that they are with safety armed.\" — Joel Barlow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/joel-barlow-39317_amendment_it-is-because-the-people-are-citizens-th_3228268.png" --- # It is because the people are citizens that they are with… ![“It is because the people are citizens that they are with safety armed.” quote by Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/joel-barlow-39317_amendment_it-is-because-the-people-are-citizens-th_3228268.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/joel-barlow-39317_amendment_it-is-because-the-people-are-citizens-th_3228268.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/joel-barlow-39317_amendment_it-is-because-the-people-are-citizens-th_3228268.png) > “It is because the people are citizens that they are with safety armed.” [Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Citizens feel safer when they can defend themselves, linking liberty with armed readiness. **In simple terms:** Armed citizens feel safe. Key Takeaway Consider responsible self‑defense. Themes freedom security responsibility Mood cautious reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - neighborhood watch - community safety - political debate Key Concepts civic duty self‑defense Questions to Reflect On - How does armament affect community trust? - What alternatives exist for safety? A Different Perspective May ignore non‑violent conflict resolution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) ## Related quotes > [Things have changed in Latin America now. We mostly have democratic governments in Latin America, so the position of the writer has changed. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/things-have-changed-in-latin-america-now-we-mostly-have-democratic/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [“The American people, and the citizens of all Western nations, have the right to know about every single thing their representatives do on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morcan/the-american-people-and-the-citizens-of-all-western-nations-have-the/) [James Morcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morcan/) > [When we are returned to power we want to put in the statute book an act which will make our people citizens of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/when-we-are-returned-to-power-we-want-to-put-in-the-statute-book-an/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [It was a new kind of class war -- the people as citizens versus the politicians and their clients in the public sector.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kristol/it-was-a-new-kind-of-class-war-the-people-as-citizens-versus-the/) [Irving Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kristol/) > [I stand here struggling for the rights of my people to be full citizens in this country. They are not-in Mississippi. They are not-in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-robeson/i-stand-here-struggling-for-the-rights-of-my-people-to-be-full/) [Paul Robeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-robeson/) > [I represent all people who are citizens of the Danish nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margrethe-ii-of-denmark/i-represent-all-people-who-are-citizens-of-the-danish-nation/) [Margrethe II of Denmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margrethe-ii-of-denmark/) > [In the economy we guarantee all market players the same conditions, and the private sector plays an increasingly important role. We are in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nguyen-minh-triet/in-the-economy-we-guarantee-all-market-players-the-same-conditions/) [Nguyen Minh Triet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nguyen-minh-triet/) > [“Ordinary French people. Citizens of fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-izzo/ordinary-french-people-citizens-of-fear/) [Jean-Claude Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-izzo/) > [The danger (where there is any) from armed citizens, is only to the \*government\*, not to \*society\*; and as long as they have nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/the-danger-where-there-is-any-from-armed-citizens-is-only-to-the/) [Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) > [Americans have the right and advantage of being armed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/americans-have-the-right-and-advantage-of-being-armed/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The majority falls prey to the delusion–popular in some circles–that ordinary people are too careless and stupid to own guns, and we would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kozinski/the-majority-falls-prey-to-the-delusion-popular-in-some-circles-that/) [Alex Kozinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kozinski/) > [I do believe that an armed society is a polite society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/i-do-believe-that-an-armed-society-is-a-polite-society/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [I ask the question all the time of people that are on the anti-gun side. And I say, OK, if you're in a situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hannity/i-ask-the-question-all-the-time-of-people-that-are-on-the-anti-gun/) [Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hannity/) > [My standpoint is armed neutrality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/my-standpoint-is-armed-neutrality/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [For those of us who cry out for gun control, our fears cannot be eliminated as long as the country remains an armed camp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/for-those-of-us-who-cry-out-for-gun-control-our-fears-cannot-be/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) ## More by Joel Barlow > [In raising a people from slavery to freedom, you have called them to act on a new theatre; and it is a necessary part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/in-raising-a-people-from-slavery-to-freedom-you-have-called-them-to/) [Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) > [ \[The disarming of citizens\] has a double effect, it palsies the hand and brutalizes the mind: a habitual disuse of physical forces totally destroys… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/the-disarming-of-citizens-has-a-double-effect-it-palsies-the-hand-and/) [Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) > [“Almighty Freedom! give my venturous song The force, the charm that to thy voice belong; Tis thine to shape my course, to light my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/almighty-freedom-give-my-venturous-song-the-force-the-charm-that-to/) [Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) > [I sing the sweets I know, the charms I feel, my morning incense, and my evening meal, the sweets of hasty pudding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/i-sing-the-sweets-i-know-the-charms-i-feel-my-morning-incense-and-my/) [Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) > [There are many advantages in their being accustomed to the use of arms, and no possible disadvantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/there-are-many-advantages-in-their-being-accustomed-to-the-use-of/) [Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) > [How could you fear a dearth? Have not mankind tho' slain by millions, millions left behind?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/how-could-you-fear-a-dearth-have-not-mankind-tho-slain-by-millions/) [Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) > [The fine arts, both in those who cultivate and those only who admire them, open and expand the mind to great ideas. They inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/the-fine-arts-both-in-those-who-cultivate-and-those-only-who-admire/) [Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) > [He who thinks to save anything by his religion, besides his soul, will be a loser in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/he-who-thinks-to-save-anything-by-his-religion-besides-his-soul-will/) [Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) > [The danger (where there is any) from armed citizens, is only to the \*government\*, not to \*society\*; and as long as they have nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/the-danger-where-there-is-any-from-armed-citizens-is-only-to-the/) [Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) > [A habitual disuse of physical forces totally destroys the moral; and men lose at once the power of protecting themselves, and of discerning the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/a-habitual-disuse-of-physical-forces-totally-destroys-the-moral-and/) [Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) [Explore all 11 Joel Barlow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) ## More Amendment quotes > [There are a lot of people who want to retain the Eighth Amendment - I don't agree with that view myself - there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-want-to-retain-the-eighth-amendment-i/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [“Let's just make this easy. I'm in favor of a Constitutional amendment that would read something like this: 'Neither the federal government, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/let-s-just-make-this-easy-i-m-in-favor-of-a-constitutional-amendment/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [If you reduce the guns and the ammo, you'll reduce the murders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/if-you-reduce-the-guns-and-the-ammo-you-ll-reduce-the-murders/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Gun control laws don't work. What is worse, they act perversely. While legitimate users of firearms encounter intense regulation, scrutiny and bureaucratic control, illicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-polsby/gun-control-laws-don-t-work-what-is-worse-they-act-perversely-while/) Daniel D. Polsby > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Guns aren't the problem; sick people are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/guns-aren-t-the-problem-sick-people-are/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. 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I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-have-two-conflicting-traditions-in-this-country-i-think-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Country lyrics often reference the NRA and firearms ownership as a way of life. Artists such as John Rich, Toby Keith, Sara Evans and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-pavlich/country-lyrics-often-reference-the-nra-and-firearms-ownership-as-a/) [Katie Pavlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-pavlich/) > [“People who have attended Concealed Carry classes, and those already licensed, typically seem to demonstrate a higher degree of courtesy, responsibility and respect. Interestingly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-behr/people-who-have-attended-concealed-carry-classes-and-those-already/) [Gary Behr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-behr/) [Browse all 2,041 Amendment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is because the people are citizens that they are with safety armed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joel Barlow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/it-is-because-the-people-are-citizens-that-they-are-with-safety-armed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amendment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/it-is-because-the-people-are-citizens-that-they-are-with-safety-armed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/joel-barlow-39317_amendment_it-is-because-the-people-are-citizens-th_3228268.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/joel-barlow-39317_amendment_it-is-because-the-people-are-citizens-th_3228268.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/joel-barlow-39317_amendment_it-is-because-the-people-are-citizens-th_3228268.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is because the people are citizens that they are with safety armed.” — Joel Barlow", "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": "Joel Barlow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is because the people are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/it-is-because-the-people-are-citizens-that-they-are-with-safety-armed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/it-is-because-the-people-are-citizens-that-they-are-with-safety-armed/#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 } } ] } ```