--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People want to be safe, not free." description: "\"“People want to be safe, not free.”\" — Libba Bray" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/libba-bray-259_freedom_people-want-to-be-safe-not-free-3034107_3034107.png" --- # People want to be safe, not free. ![“People want to be safe, not free.” quote by Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/libba-bray-259_freedom_people-want-to-be-safe-not-free-3034107_3034107.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/libba-bray-259_freedom_people-want-to-be-safe-not-free-3034107_3034107.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/libba-bray-259_freedom_people-want-to-be-safe-not-free-3034107_3034107.png) > ““People want to be safe, not free.”” [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often trade freedom for safety, fearing risk more than valuing autonomy. **In simple terms:** Safety vs. freedom trade‑off. Key Takeaway Choose autonomy over comfort. Themes freedom security choice Mood thoughtful provocative Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - politics - personal decisions - lifestyle - health Key Concepts risk control Questions to Reflect On - What freedoms are you willing to risk? - How does fear shape your choices? A Different Perspective Safety can be a false comfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Way of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [Our people want jobs. They don't want a safety net as a way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/our-people-want-jobs-they-don-t-want-a-safety-net-as-a-way-of-life/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [A caged canary is safe but not free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/a-caged-canary-is-safe-but-not-free/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [“You may be safe, but I am free.' Take advantage of the freedom that comes with your youth. Inhale life, exhale fire, and embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-braun/you-may-be-safe-but-i-am-free-take-advantage-of-the-freedom-that/) [Adam Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-braun/) > [“Dear Lord, I am safe and free from care in any place when You are there. —Roberta Messner”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/dear-lord-i-am-safe-and-free-from-care-in-any-place-when-you-are/) Guideposts > [“But still he remembered wondering, at the age of ten, is it better to be safe or to be free?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-berne/but-still-he-remembered-wondering-at-the-age-of-ten-is-it-better-to/) Lisa Berne > [“Somewhere the saving and putting away had to begin again and someone had to do the saving and keeping, one way or another, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/somewhere-the-saving-and-putting-away-had-to-begin-again-and-someone/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [No matter how much money I ever get, I'm going to want to provide for my family and never have to go back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludacris/no-matter-how-much-money-i-ever-get-i-m-going-to-want-to-provide-for/) [Ludacris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludacris/) > [“I want her to be safe. I want her to be mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-want-her-to-be-safe-i-want-her-to-be-mine/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“I can explain myself: If you want to be safe, walk in the middle of the street. I’m not joking. You’ve been told to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-autumn/i-can-explain-myself-if-you-want-to-be-safe-walk-in-the-middle-of-the/) [Emilie Autumn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilie-autumn/) > [“Feeling scared yet? Want to go somewhere safe?" "It won't help, will it? We'd just run into Godzilla or the Vampire from Hell. Trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/feeling-scared-yet-want-to-go-somewhere-safe-it-won-t-help-will-it-we/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [I obviously want a safe world for everybody if we're getting really deep, but my safe and happy place is always going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-cyrus/i-obviously-want-a-safe-world-for-everybody-if-we-re-getting-really/) [Noah Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-cyrus/) > [“It’s smart to want to be safe. It’s a natural instinct. If we protect ourselves—our bodies, our minds, our hearts—we can avoid all these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roni-loren/it-s-smart-to-want-to-be-safe-it-s-a-natural-instinct-if-we-protect/) [Roni Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roni-loren/) > [If you're my woman, you're somebody I give emotions to that I don't give to nobody else. You're my safe space. I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-faiyaz/if-you-re-my-woman-you-re-somebody-i-give-emotions-to-that-i-don-t/) [Brent Faiyaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-faiyaz/) > [I see so many people living in a bubble. They want to be safe, they want their kids to be safe, and they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-ballard/i-see-so-many-people-living-in-a-bubble-they-want-to-be-safe-they/) [Frankie Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-ballard/) > [“I don’t want to be safe," he said. "I want to be with you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-don-t-want-to-be-safe-he-said-i-want-to-be-with-you/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More by Libba Bray > [“I have never felt more ridiculous. If this is what it means to be a woman I am not the slightest bit interested.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/i-have-never-felt-more-ridiculous-if-this-is-what-it-means-to-be-a/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [There are no safe choices. Only other choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/there-are-no-safe-choices-only-other-choices/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“The King of Crows raked his fingers across the dark until it bled. He licked the blood from his fingers with a forked tongue.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/the-king-of-crows-raked-his-fingers-across-the-dark-until-it-bled-he/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [It is how it has always been. We will accept the legacy of our ancestors,' Asha says, smiling, and in her smile I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/it-is-how-it-has-always-been-we-will-accept-the-legacy-of-our/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [The trouble with morning is that it comes well before noon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/the-trouble-with-morning-is-that-it-comes-well-before-noon/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“Spare a copper for our cause?" the girl with the coin cup asks, her voice weary. "I can spare more than that," I say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/spare-a-copper-for-our-cause-the-girl-with-the-coin-cup-asks-her/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [As one, they leap, laughing, and that is where we leave them - mouths open, arms spread wide, fingers splayed to take in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/as-one-they-leap-laughing-and-that-is-where-we-leave-them-mouths-open/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [I am for hockey. I find I should like to hit something with a stick. -Gemma Doyle Trilogy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/i-am-for-hockey-i-find-i-should-like-to-hit-something-with-a-stick/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [There are times when I wish I could go back and change the course of my life. Make different choices...But the past cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/there-are-times-when-i-wish-i-could-go-back-and-change-the-course-of/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“Sexuality is not meant to be this way - an honest, consensual expression in which a girl might take an active role when she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/sexuality-is-not-meant-to-be-this-way-an-honest-consensual-expression/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [There is no greater power on this earth than story.” Will paced the length of the room. “People think boundaries and borders build nations.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/there-is-no-greater-power-on-this-earth-than-story-will-paced-the/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [Heaven's brightest and best-loved angel, who was cast out for inspiring a rebellion against God. Having lost Heaven, Lucifer and his rebel angels vowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/heaven-s-brightest-and-best-loved-angel-who-was-cast-out-for/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“The light is so bright it hurts my eyes. But I don't dare close them. I won't. Instead, I try to adjust to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/the-light-is-so-bright-it-hurts-my-eyes-but-i-don-t-dare-close-them-i/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“Miss Moore speaks slowly, deliberately. "I know because I read." She pulls back and stands, hands on hips, offering us a challenge. "May I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/miss-moore-speaks-slowly-deliberately-i-know-because-i-read-she-pulls/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“Duff's little moans traveled up her spine, made her head buzz. And another thought grabbed hold: She was doing this. She had the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/duff-s-little-moans-traveled-up-her-spine-made-her-head-buzz-and/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) [Explore all 774 Libba Bray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People want to be safe, not free.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Libba Bray" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/people-want-to-be-safe-not-free/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Freedom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/people-want-to-be-safe-not-free/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/libba-bray-259_freedom_people-want-to-be-safe-not-free-3034107_3034107.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/libba-bray-259_freedom_people-want-to-be-safe-not-free-3034107_3034107.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/libba-bray-259_freedom_people-want-to-be-safe-not-free-3034107_3034107.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People want to be safe, not free.” — Libba Bray", "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": "Libba Bray", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“People want to be safe, not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/people-want-to-be-safe-not-free/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/people-want-to-be-safe-not-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 } } ] } ```