--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We prefer self-government with danger to…" description: "\"We prefer self-government with danger to servitude in tranquility.\" — Kwame Nkrumah" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/kwame-nkrumah-15093_danger_we-prefer-self-government-with-danger-to_2895912.jpg" --- # We prefer self-government with danger to servitude in… ![“We prefer self-government with danger to servitude in tranquility.” quote by Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/kwame-nkrumah-15093_danger_we-prefer-self-government-with-danger-to_2895912.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/kwame-nkrumah-15093_danger_we-prefer-self-government-with-danger-to_2895912.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/kwame-nkrumah-15093_danger_we-prefer-self-government-with-danger-to_2895912.jpg) > “We prefer self-government with danger to servitude in tranquility.” [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing self‑governance, even with risks, is preferable to passive subjugation. **In simple terms:** Freedom with risk beats safe servitude. Key Takeaway Embrace autonomy despite dangers. Themes freedom risk governance Mood inspirational serious Type political historical When to use this quote - nation building - civil movements - policy formation - community organization Key Concepts political theory colonialism Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards protect a new nation? - How balance liberty with security? A Different Perspective Risk can lead to instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Self-government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-government/) [Servitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servitude/) [Tranquility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tranquility/) ## Related quotes > [May it be to the world... to assume the blessings and security of self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/may-it-be-to-the-world-to-assume-the-blessings-and-security-of-self/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A really intelligent nation might be held together by far stronger forces than are derived from the purely gregarious instincts. A nation need not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-galton/a-really-intelligent-nation-might-be-held-together-by-far-stronger/) [Francis Galton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-galton/) > [The Philippines are ours forever. They are not capable of self-government. How could they be? They are not a self-governing race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-beveridge/the-philippines-are-ours-forever-they-are-not-capable-of-self/) [Albert J. Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-beveridge/) > [That future depends on the values of self-government, our sense of duty, loyalty, self-confidence and regard for the common good. We are a diverse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-miller/that-future-depends-on-the-values-of-self-government-our-sense-of/) [Jeff Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-miller/) > [When I talk about self-management, self-regulation, self-government, the word I emphasize is self, and my concern is with the reconstruction of the self. Marxists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/when-i-talk-about-self-management-self-regulation-self-government-the/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [Politics is the practical exercise of the art of self-government, and somebody must attend to it if we are to have self-government; somebody must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/politics-is-the-practical-exercise-of-the-art-of-self-government-and/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [We spoke and acted as if, given the opportunity for self-government, we would quickly create utopias. Instead injustice, even tyranny, is rampant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/we-spoke-and-acted-as-if-given-the-opportunity-for-self-government-we/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [To rail and rant against tyranny is to manifest inferiority, for there is no tyranny but ignorance; to be conscious of one's powers is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-c-riegel/to-rail-and-rant-against-tyranny-is-to-manifest-inferiority-for-there/) [E.C. Riegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-c-riegel/) > [There is no greatness apart from self control. Development that does not include self government will only guarantee our mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-cooke/there-is-no-greatness-apart-from-self-control-development-that-does/) [Graham Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-cooke/) > [Our forefathers found the evils of free thinking more to be endured than the evils of inquest or suppression. This is because thoughtful, bold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-jackson/our-forefathers-found-the-evils-of-free-thinking-more-to-be-endured/) [Robert H. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-jackson/) > [China is a country with a record of continuous self-government going back 4,000 years, the only society that has achieved this. One must start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/china-is-a-country-with-a-record-of-continuous-self-government-going/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Local self-government…is the life-blood of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lothrop-motley/local-self-government-is-the-life-blood-of-liberty/) [John Lothrop Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lothrop-motley/) > [Self government is no less essential to the development, growth, and happiness of the individual than to the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-douglas/self-government-is-no-less-essential-to-the-development-growth-and/) William H. Douglas > [Nations are beginning to look to some vague organization, some nebulous course of humanity, to pay their bills and tell them what to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/nations-are-beginning-to-look-to-some-vague-organization-some/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [We demand entire freedom of action and then expect the government in some miraculous way to save us from the consequences of our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/we-demand-entire-freedom-of-action-and-then-expect-the-government-in/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) ## More by Kwame Nkrumah > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [“All the fair brave words spoken about freedom that had been broadcast to the four corners of the earth took seed and grew where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/all-the-fair-brave-words-spoken-about-freedom-that-had-been-broadcast/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [We face neither East nor West: we face forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/we-face-neither-east-nor-west-we-face-forward/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It is clear that we must find an African solution to our problems, and that this can only be found in African unity. Divided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/it-is-clear-that-we-must-find-an-african-solution-to-our-problems-and/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [Africa is one continent, one people, and one nation. The notion that in order to have a nation it is necessary for there to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/africa-is-one-continent-one-people-and-one-nation-the-notion-that-in/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [A State in the grip of neo-colonialism is not master of its own destiny. It is this factor which makes neo-colonialism such a serious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/a-state-in-the-grip-of-neo-colonialism-is-not-master-of-its-own/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [“Never before in history has such a sweeping fervor for freedom expressed itself in great mass movements which are driving down the bastions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/never-before-in-history-has-such-a-sweeping-fervor-for-freedom/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [We all want a United Africa, United not only in our concept of what unity connotes, but united in our common desire to move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/we-all-want-a-united-africa-united-not-only-in-our-concept-of-what/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [Africa is one continent, one people and one nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/africa-is-one-continent-one-people-and-one-nation/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [The masses of the people of Africa are crying for unity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/the-masses-of-the-people-of-africa-are-crying-for-unity/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/i-am-not-african-because-i-was-born-in-africa-but-because-africa-was/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [At long last, the battle has ended! And thus, Ghana, your beloved country is free forever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/at-long-last-the-battle-has-ended-and-thus-ghana-your-beloved-country/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [Seek ye first the political kingdom and all other else will be added unto it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/seek-ye-first-the-political-kingdom-and-all-other-else-will-be-added/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It is only the ending of capitalism, colonialism, imperialism and neocolonialism and the attainment of world communism that can provide the conditions under which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/it-is-only-the-ending-of-capitalism-colonialism-imperialism-and/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [Socialism is not spontaneous. It does not arise of itself. It has abiding principles according to which the major means of production and distribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/socialism-is-not-spontaneous-it-does-not-arise-of-itself-it-has/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) [Explore all 44 Kwame Nkrumah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) ## More Danger quotes > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. 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No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [“I’ll always come back to you,” he said. “Always.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/i-ll-always-come-back-to-you-he-said-always/) [Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/) > [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Natural history is not taught in seminary. This is curious, as most people in pastoral ministry are about 567 times more likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-maitland/natural-history-is-not-taught-in-seminary-this-is-curious-as-most/) [Sara Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-maitland/) > [A sea setting us upon the ice has brought us close to danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hudson/a-sea-setting-us-upon-the-ice-has-brought-us-close-to-danger/) [Henry Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hudson/) > [“You are a lawmaker in your own right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-are-a-lawmaker-in-your-own-right/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [There's a danger in starting a fire, you'll never know how many bridges you'll burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-a-danger-in-starting-a-fire-you-ll-never-know-how-many/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is the gift of your species and this is the danger, because you do not choose to control your imaginings. 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