---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Different eras—like us. John Philpot…"
description: "\"“Different eras—like us. John Philpot Curran, Irish judge and orator?” She just stared at him. “I’m paraphrasing,” Reeder said, “but in essence, Curran..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/max-allan-collins-17045_curran-said_different-eras-like-us-john-philpot-curr_745706.jpg"
---

#  Different eras—like us. John Philpot Curran, Irish judge…

![“Different eras—like us. John Philpot Curran, Irish judge and orator?” She just stared at him. “I’m paraphrasing,” Reeder said, “but in essence, Curran said the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” quote by Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/max-allan-collins-17045_curran-said_different-eras-like-us-john-philpot-curr_745706.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/max-allan-collins-17045_curran-said_different-eras-like-us-john-philpot-curr_745706.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/max-allan-collins-17045_curran-said_different-eras-like-us-john-philpot-curr_745706.jpg)

> ““Different eras—like us. John Philpot Curran, Irish judge and orator?” She just stared at him. “I’m paraphrasing,” Reeder said, “but in essence, Curran said the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.””

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Liberty demands constant, unending watchfulness to protect freedom.

**In simple terms:** Freedom requires constant vigilance.

Key Takeaway

Stay alert to protect freedom.

Themes

freedom vigilance responsibility

Mood

serious reflective

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- government oversight
- personal activism
- community safety

Key Concepts

political theory citizen duty

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance vigilance with trust?
- What risks arise from complacency?

A Different Perspective

Vigilance can become paranoia if not balanced.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Curran Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curran-said-323563/) [Judge Orator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge-orator-5811734/) [Liberty Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty-eternal-1216369/) [Price Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/price-liberty-723284/) [Reeder Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reeder-said-5811735/)

## Related quotes

> [The price of liberty is something more than eternal vigilance. There must also be eternal advance. We can save the rights we have inherited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-demarest-lloyd/the-price-of-liberty-is-something-more-than-eternal-vigilance-there/)

[Henry Demarest Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-demarest-lloyd/)

> [I sometimes think that the price of liberty is not so much eternal vigilance as eternal dirt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/i-sometimes-think-that-the-price-of-liberty-is-not-so-much-eternal/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [Liberty - eternal spirit of the chainless mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/liberty-eternal-spirit-of-the-chainless-mind/)

[Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/)

> [The love of power and the love of liberty are in eternal antagonism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-love-of-power-and-the-love-of-liberty-are-in-eternal-antagonism/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [We should clap or something." Curran said. "She's trying so hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/we-should-clap-or-something-curran-said-she-s-trying-so-hard/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“Don't worry, he's coming with me to investigate things." "In the city?" Jim asked. "Yes." "That's a great idea. You both should go. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/don-t-worry-he-s-coming-with-me-to-investigate-things-in-the-city-jim/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“You're going to take him on by yourself?" Curran's voice asked at my side. He sounded amused. "If I wait any longer, I won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/you-re-going-to-take-him-on-by-yourself-curran-s-voice-asked-at-my/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“The degenerate is at the Guild,” Curran said. “Regenerating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-degenerate-is-at-the-guild-curran-said-regenerating/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [No, he just needs a moment," Curran said. "Young bouda males. Easily excitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/no-he-just-needs-a-moment-curran-said-young-bouda-males-easily/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“No, it's human, Curran said. That's the problem. People, especially unhappy people, want a cause. They want something to belong to, to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/no-it-s-human-curran-said-that-s-the-problem-people-especially/)

[ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“Please relay my greetings to the Beast Lord," I said. "I appreciate his willingness to alter his extremely busy schedule and make and appearance."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/please-relay-my-greetings-to-the-beast-lord-i-said-i-appreciate-his/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [Enough," Curran said. An unmistakable command saturated his voice. Jim clicked his mouth shut. I crossed my arms. "I'm sorry, is this the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/enough-curran-said-an-unmistakable-command-saturated-his-voice-jim/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“I looked at Curran. “You killed an animal god and then you ate him?” “Maybe,” Curran said. “What do you mean maybe?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-looked-at-curran-you-killed-an-animal-god-and-then-you-ate-him/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [The price of liberty is, always has been, and always will be blood. The person who is not willing to die for his liberty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-price-of-liberty-is-always-has-been-and-always-will-be-blood-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty; power is ever stealing from the many to the few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/eternal-vigilance-is-the-price-of-liberty-power-is-ever-stealing-from/)

[Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/)

## More by Max Allan Collins

> [“cite the following books: The Supreme Court Explained by Ellen Greenberg, Norton Publishing, 1997; The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Supreme Court by Lita…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/cite-the-following-books-the-supreme-court-explained-by-ellen/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

> [“background. Nancy had an antique brass bed. I had the feeling these girls weren’t two of a kind. Meanwhile, I was going through things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/background-nancy-had-an-antique-brass-bed-i-had-the-feeling-these/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

> [“If Columbus had an advisory committee, he would probably still be at the dock.” Arthur J. Goldberg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, 1962–1965,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/if-columbus-had-an-advisory-committee-he-would-probably-still-be-at/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

> [“Sometimes I wonder if I've changed so much, my wife is even gonna recognize me whenever it is I get back to her, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/sometimes-i-wonder-if-i-ve-changed-so-much-my-wife-is-even-gonna/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

> [“People are very quick to ridicule others for showing fear. But we rarely know the secret springboards behind human action. The man who shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/people-are-very-quick-to-ridicule-others-for-showing-fear-but-we/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

> [“People are very quick to ridicule others for showing fear. But we rarely know the secret springboards behind human action. The man who shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/people-are-very-quick-to-ridicule-others-for-showing-fear-but-we-2/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

> [“She couldn’t stop herself from grinning back at”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/she-couldn-t-stop-herself-from-grinning-back-at/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

> [“If Columbus had an advisory committee, he would probably still be at the dock.” Arthur J. Goldberg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, 1962–1965, United”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/if-columbus-had-an-advisory-committee-he-would-probably-still-be-at-3/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

> [ Rick: Can you swim? Evelyn: Well, of course I can swim if the occasion calls for it. Rick: \[throwing her overboard\] Trust me. It… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/rick-can-you-swim-evelyn-well-of-course-i-can-swim-if-the-occasion/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

> [“If Columbus had an advisory committee, he would probably still be at the dock.” Arthur J. Goldberg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, 1962–1965,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/if-columbus-had-an-advisory-committee-he-would-probably-still-be-at-4/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

> [“The government, which was designed for the people, has got into the hands of the bosses and their employers, the special interests. An invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/the-government-which-was-designed-for-the-people-has-got-into-the/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

> [“People are very quick to ridicule others for showing fear. But we rarely know the secret springboards behind human action. The man who shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/people-are-very-quick-to-ridicule-others-for-showing-fear-but-we-3/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

> [“Law not served by power is an illusion; but power not ruled by law is a menace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/law-not-served-by-power-is-an-illusion-but-power-not-ruled-by-law-is/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

> [ “Evelyn: \[drunk\] You're wondering, 'What is a place like me doing in a girl like this?' Rick: Yeah, something like that.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/evelyn-drunk-you-re-wondering-what-is-a-place-like-me-doing-in-a-girl/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

> [If you're turned away from one road, there's always another--filled with risk but also adventure. Roads less taken are always the most rewarding ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/if-you-re-turned-away-from-one-road-there-s-always-another-filled/)

[Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

[Explore all 38 Max Allan Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/)

## More Curran Said quotes

> [“I looked at Curran. “You killed an animal god and then you ate him?” “Maybe,” Curran said. “What do you mean maybe?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-looked-at-curran-you-killed-an-animal-god-and-then-you-ate-him/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [Enough," Curran said. An unmistakable command saturated his voice. Jim clicked his mouth shut. I crossed my arms. "I'm sorry, is this the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/enough-curran-said-an-unmistakable-command-saturated-his-voice-jim/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“Please relay my greetings to the Beast Lord," I said. "I appreciate his willingness to alter his extremely busy schedule and make and appearance."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/please-relay-my-greetings-to-the-beast-lord-i-said-i-appreciate-his/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“No, it's human, Curran said. That's the problem. People, especially unhappy people, want a cause. They want something to belong to, to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/no-it-s-human-curran-said-that-s-the-problem-people-especially/)

[ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“The degenerate is at the Guild,” Curran said. “Regenerating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-degenerate-is-at-the-guild-curran-said-regenerating/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“You're going to take him on by yourself?" Curran's voice asked at my side. He sounded amused. "If I wait any longer, I won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/you-re-going-to-take-him-on-by-yourself-curran-s-voice-asked-at-my/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“Don't worry, he's coming with me to investigate things." "In the city?" Jim asked. "Yes." "That's a great idea. You both should go. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/don-t-worry-he-s-coming-with-me-to-investigate-things-in-the-city-jim/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [We should clap or something." Curran said. "She's trying so hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/we-should-clap-or-something-curran-said-she-s-trying-so-hard/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [No, he just needs a moment," Curran said. "Young bouda males. Easily excitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/no-he-just-needs-a-moment-curran-said-young-bouda-males-easily/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

[Browse all 10 Curran Said quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curran-said-323563/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Different eras—like us. John Philpot Curran, Irish judge and orator?” She just stared at him. “I’m paraphrasing,” Reeder said, “but in essence, Curran said the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Max Allan Collins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/different-eras-like-us-john-philpot-curran-irish-judge-and-orator-she/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Curran Said"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/different-eras-like-us-john-philpot-curran-irish-judge-and-orator-she/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/max-allan-collins-17045_curran-said_different-eras-like-us-john-philpot-curr_745706.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/max-allan-collins-17045_curran-said_different-eras-like-us-john-philpot-curr_745706.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/max-allan-collins-17045_curran-said_different-eras-like-us-john-philpot-curr_745706.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Different eras—like us. John Philpot Curran, Irish judge and orator?” She just stared at him. “I’m…” — Max Allan Collins",
                "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": "Max Allan Collins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Different eras—like us. John Philpot Curran,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/different-eras-like-us-john-philpot-curran-irish-judge-and-orator-she/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/different-eras-like-us-john-philpot-curran-irish-judge-and-orator-she/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
