--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Freedom requires religion in society, not…" description: "\"Freedom requires religion in society, not in individuals.\" — Mitt Romney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f4/mitt-romney-268_freedom_freedom-requires-religion-in-society-not_3213373.png" --- # Freedom requires religion in society, not in individuals. ![“Freedom requires religion in society, not in individuals.” quote by Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f4/mitt-romney-268_freedom_freedom-requires-religion-in-society-not_3213373.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f4/mitt-romney-268_freedom_freedom-requires-religion-in-society-not_3213373.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f4/mitt-romney-268_freedom_freedom-requires-religion-in-society-not_3213373.png) > “Freedom requires religion in society, not in individuals.” [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society needs religion as a shared cultural framework, not as personal coercion. **In simple terms:** Religion should unite society, not control individuals. Key Takeaway Support communal values, respect personal belief. Themes faith society individual rights Mood thoughtful balanced Type philosophical political When to use this quote - public policy debates - community events - educational curricula Key Concepts secularism public morality social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How can societies benefit from shared moral foundations? - What limits should be placed on religious influence? A Different Perspective Balancing communal religion with personal freedom is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion in society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-in-society/) ## Related quotes > [Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/freedom-requires-religion-just-as-religion-requires-freedom/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Freedom requires religion like a slug requires salt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-condell/freedom-requires-religion-like-a-slug-requires-salt/) [Pat Condell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-condell/) > [Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/freedom-requires-religion-just-as-religion-requires-freedom-freedom/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Society is made up of individuals. The thoughts and actions of each individual influence the culture of that society. Instead of waiting for others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/society-is-made-up-of-individuals-the-thoughts-and-actions-of-each/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [A free society is one in which individuals are free to discover for themselves the available range of alternatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-kirzner/a-free-society-is-one-in-which-individuals-are-free-to-discover-for/) Israel Kirzner > [In a free society, individuals have the right to do right or wrong, as long as they don't threaten or infringe upon the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-skousen/in-a-free-society-individuals-have-the-right-to-do-right-or-wrong-as/) [Mark Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-skousen/) > [A society made up of individuals who were all capable of original thought would probably be unendurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-society-made-up-of-individuals-who-were-all-capable-of-original/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [ What is society but an individual? \[\] The ocean is not society; it is individuals. This was how I managed to gain a modicum… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/what-is-society-but-an-individual-the-ocean-is-not-society-it-is/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [The strength of an individual is not in his extreme freedom and libertine lifestyle, but in the stalwartness of his character and his moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/the-strength-of-an-individual-is-not-in-his-extreme-freedom-and/) [Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/) > [Religion, society and state - from none of these do women get their proper honor. It is religion, which has created an unparalleled disparity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taslima-nasrin/religion-society-and-state-from-none-of-these-do-women-get-their/) [Taslima Nasrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taslima-nasrin/) > [“Hence a certain tension between religion and society marks the higher stages of every civilization. Religion begins by offering magical aid to harassed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/hence-a-certain-tension-between-religion-and-society-marks-the-higher/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [I believe in the Constitution. The Constitution says that government isn't supposed to be infusing religion into our society, and so I asked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-newdow/i-believe-in-the-constitution-the-constitution-says-that-government/) [Michael Newdow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-newdow/) > [“that increasing the role of religion in society would make things worse, not better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rysa-walker/that-increasing-the-role-of-religion-in-society-would-make-things/) [Rysa Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rysa-walker/) > [Religion, Society, and Nature--these are the three struggles of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/religion-society-and-nature-these-are-the-three-struggles-of-man/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [In thinking about religion and society in the 21st century, we should broaden the conversation about faith from doctrinal debates to the larger question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/in-thinking-about-religion-and-society-in-the-21st-century-we-should/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) ## More by Mitt Romney > [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I would like to have campaign spending limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-would-like-to-have-campaign-spending-limits/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers - I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-in-my-mormon-faith-and-i-endeavor-to-live-by-it-my-faith-is/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [America's military is second to none in the world. We're blessed with terrific soldiers, and extraordinary technology and intelligence. But the idea of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-s-military-is-second-to-none-in-the-world-we-re-blessed-with/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [And a special thank you to the citizens of Massachusetts: You are paying all the taxes, creating all the jobs, raising all the children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/and-a-special-thank-you-to-the-citizens-of-massachusetts-you-are/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [When I was elected governor of my state, I had a legislature 87 percent Democrat. It was not lost on me that to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-i-was-elected-governor-of-my-state-i-had-a-legislature-87/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I saw the young man over there with eggs Benedict, with hollandaise sauce. And I was going to suggest to you that you serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-saw-the-young-man-over-there-with-eggs-benedict-with-hollandaise/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I've been a hunter pretty much all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-ve-been-a-hunter-pretty-much-all-my-life/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I think Mitt Romney has demonstrated repeatedly he has a penchant for - for secrecy, doesn't seem to have any interest in actually showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-think-mitt-romney-has-demonstrated-repeatedly-he-has-a-penchant-for/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If I were to offer advice to any president of the United States, it would be this: do whatever you can do to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-i-were-to-offer-advice-to-any-president-of-the-united-states-it/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I was too important to go to Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-was-too-important-to-go-to-vietnam/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [America has not dictated to other nations. We have freed other nations from dictators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-has-not-dictated-to-other-nations-we-have-freed-other-nations/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The right course is for the Palestinians and the Israelis to sit down at the table together. The Palestinians need to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-right-course-is-for-the-palestinians-and-the-israelis-to-sit-down/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If I'm President of the United States, when I'm President of the United States, we will stand with Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-i-m-president-of-the-united-states-when-i-m-president-of-the/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [President Obama instituted the most anti-growth, anti-investment, anti-jobs measures that we have seen in our lifetime. Now he called his agenda ambitious, I call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/president-obama-instituted-the-most-anti-growth-anti-investment-anti/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) [Explore all 781 Mitt Romney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## 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": "Freedom requires religion in society, not in individuals.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mitt Romney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/freedom-requires-religion-in-society-not-in-individuals/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Freedom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/freedom-requires-religion-in-society-not-in-individuals/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f4/mitt-romney-268_freedom_freedom-requires-religion-in-society-not_3213373.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f4/mitt-romney-268_freedom_freedom-requires-religion-in-society-not_3213373.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f4/mitt-romney-268_freedom_freedom-requires-religion-in-society-not_3213373.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Freedom requires religion in society, not in individuals.” — Mitt Romney", "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": "Mitt Romney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Freedom requires religion in society, not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/freedom-requires-religion-in-society-not-in-individuals/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/freedom-requires-religion-in-society-not-in-individuals/#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 } } ] } ```