--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you give up freedom to get security…" description: "\"If you give up freedom to get security, you deserve neither.\" — Matthew Dowd" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/matthew-dowd-31572_cybersecurity_if-you-give-up-freedom-to-get-security-y_1294459.png" --- # If you give up freedom to get security, you deserve neither. ![“If you give up freedom to get security, you deserve neither.” quote by Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/matthew-dowd-31572_cybersecurity_if-you-give-up-freedom-to-get-security-y_1294459.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/matthew-dowd-31572_cybersecurity_if-you-give-up-freedom-to-get-security-y_1294459.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/matthew-dowd-31572_cybersecurity_if-you-give-up-freedom-to-get-security-y_1294459.png) > “If you give up freedom to get security, you deserve neither.” [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing security over freedom sacrifices both values. **In simple terms:** Giving up freedom for security loses both. Key Takeaway Protect liberty, not just safety. Themes freedom security politics Mood cautious critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - personal choices - civil rights Key Concepts social contract trade‑offs Questions to Reflect On - What freedoms are you willing to trade? - How can societies balance safety and liberty? A Different Perspective Security can become a pretext for control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Deserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserve/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-security/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Security Deserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security-deserve-725818/) ## Related quotes > [Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/those-who-surrender-freedom-for-security-will-not-have-nor-do-they/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [People who are willing to give up freedom for the sake of short term security, deserve neither freedom nor security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/people-who-are-willing-to-give-up-freedom-for-the-sake-of-short-term/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Benjamin Franklin once said, 'A people who would trade liberty for security deserve neither.' I think we can have both. We can keep our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/benjamin-franklin-once-said-a-people-who-would-trade-liberty-for/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [The U.S. cannot impose freedom, security, and unity in Iraq by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/the-u-s-cannot-impose-freedom-security-and-unity-in-iraq-by-force/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [“As Ben Franklin was alleged to have said, those who would trade a little liberty for a little security deserve neither and will lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/as-ben-franklin-was-alleged-to-have-said-those-who-would-trade-a/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/any-society-that-would-give-up-a-little-liberty-to-gain-a-little/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Those who would give up their civil liberties for security deserve neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/those-who-would-give-up-their-civil-liberties-for-security-deserve/) [Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/) > [People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/people-willing-to-trade-their-freedom-for-temporary-security-deserve/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Any society that would give up essential liberty to obtain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." Ben Franklin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-franklin/any-society-that-would-give-up-essential-liberty-to-obtain-a-little/) [Ben Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-franklin/) > [Those who give up liberty for the sake of security, deserve neither liberty nor security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/those-who-give-up-liberty-for-the-sake-of-security-deserve-neither/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-desire-to-give-up-freedom-in-order-to-gain-security-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Those who give up their liberty for more security neither deserve liberty nor security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/those-who-give-up-their-liberty-for-more-security-neither-deserve/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The fact that other countries spy on their own people or spy on each other does not address the fact that the US is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesselyn-radack/the-fact-that-other-countries-spy-on-their-own-people-or-spy-on-each/) [Jesselyn Radack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesselyn-radack/) > [Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/those-who-sacrifice-liberty-for-security-deserve-neither/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Millions of Americans have paid into social security and deserve their full benefits. Pure and simple, Republicans are manufacturing a social security crisis that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-watson/millions-of-americans-have-paid-into-social-security-and-deserve/) [Diane Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-watson/) ## More by Matthew Dowd > [To me, polls are like approval ratings for presidents are like an offensive line, right. And if an offensive line is weak, that means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/to-me-polls-are-like-approval-ratings-for-presidents-are-like-an/) [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) > [Democrats have a problem if they go one way and don't emphasize the rule of law and only have compassion. The Republicans have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/democrats-have-a-problem-if-they-go-one-way-and-don-t-emphasize-the/) [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) > [What Donald Trump is, is not movement of change, it's a reaction to global change, it's a total reaction to global change. It's transformational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/what-donald-trump-is-is-not-movement-of-change-it-s-a-reaction-to/) [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) > [I may be a little old-fashioned, but I actually believe that if you live and work in our house and you work on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/i-may-be-a-little-old-fashioned-but-i-actually-believe-that-if-you/) [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) > [You can't keep changing the rules based upon who holds political power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/you-can-t-keep-changing-the-rules-based-upon-who-holds-political-power/) [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) > [What makes America great is peaceful protests and exercising your constitutional rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/what-makes-america-great-is-peaceful-protests-and-exercising-your/) [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) > [Let's keep in mind that Donald Trump didn't win because of himself. 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But the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/as-you-know-in-this-democracy-in-order-to-have-a-healthy-democracy-we/) [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) [Explore all 16 Matthew Dowd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) ## More Cybersecurity quotes > [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/) > [“Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority-- where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-select-man-strives-instinctively-for-a-citadel-and-a-privacy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Our engagement through international economics, trade, these trade agreements, is vital and is linked to our national security. 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But every teacher having a gun, I don't know if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/i-m-ok-with-guns-in-schools-if-it-s-a-security-trained-security/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [I'm also the chairman of the board of Symantec, which is the world's largest cybersecurity - software cybersecurity company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schulman/i-m-also-the-chairman-of-the-board-of-symantec-which-is-the-world-s/) [Dan Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schulman/) > [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [Fraud will always exist. Enforcement of anti-fraud laws is a useful deterrent, but in the end there's no substitute for investor vigilance. Government regulations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/fraud-will-always-exist-enforcement-of-anti-fraud-laws-is-a-useful/) [John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/) > [As president, things that you're supposed to focus on, things like the economy, like energy policy, which is completely tied to national security, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-burgum/as-president-things-that-you-re-supposed-to-focus-on-things-like-the/) [Doug Burgum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-burgum/) > [The U.S. cannot impose freedom, security, and unity in Iraq by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/the-u-s-cannot-impose-freedom-security-and-unity-in-iraq-by-force/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [Men who have lived significant lives are men who never waited: not for money, security, ease, or women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-deida/men-who-have-lived-significant-lives-are-men-who-never-waited-not-for/) [David Deida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-deida/) > [I've always said that I benefit, as an actor, from not having the illusion of security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sparks/i-ve-always-said-that-i-benefit-as-an-actor-from-not-having-the/) [Hal Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sparks/) > [I don't want to have anything to do with that: just the fame without personal respect for your privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-don-t-want-to-have-anything-to-do-with-that-just-the-fame-without/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [The purpose of the military is to close with and destroy the enemy on behalf of our national security priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-wilcox/the-purpose-of-the-military-is-to-close-with-and-destroy-the-enemy-on/) [Todd Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-wilcox/) [Browse all 6,947 Cybersecurity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you give up freedom to get security, you deserve neither.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Dowd" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/if-you-give-up-freedom-to-get-security-you-deserve-neither/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cybersecurity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/if-you-give-up-freedom-to-get-security-you-deserve-neither/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/matthew-dowd-31572_cybersecurity_if-you-give-up-freedom-to-get-security-y_1294459.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/matthew-dowd-31572_cybersecurity_if-you-give-up-freedom-to-get-security-y_1294459.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/matthew-dowd-31572_cybersecurity_if-you-give-up-freedom-to-get-security-y_1294459.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you give up freedom to get security, you deserve neither.” — Matthew Dowd", "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": "Matthew Dowd", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you give up freedom to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/if-you-give-up-freedom-to-get-security-you-deserve-neither/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/if-you-give-up-freedom-to-get-security-you-deserve-neither/#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 } } ] } ```