--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The security of the Nation is not at the…" description: "\"The security of the Nation is not at the ramparts alone, Security also lies in the value of our free institutions. A cantankerous press, an obstinate p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/murray-gurfein-81963_authority_the-security-of-the-nation-is-not-at-the_2541653.jpg" --- # The security of the Nation is not at the ramparts alone… ![“The security of the Nation is not at the ramparts alone, Security also lies in the value of our free institutions. A cantankerous press, an obstinate press, a ubiquitous press must be suffered by those in authority in order to preserve the even greater values of freedom of expression and the right…” quote by Murray Gurfein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/murray-gurfein-81963_authority_the-security-of-the-nation-is-not-at-the_2541653.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/murray-gurfein-81963_authority_the-security-of-the-nation-is-not-at-the_2541653.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/murray-gurfein-81963_authority_the-security-of-the-nation-is-not-at-the_2541653.jpg) > “The security of the Nation is not at the ramparts alone, Security also lies in the value of our free institutions. A cantankerous press, an obstinate press, a ubiquitous press must be suffered by those in authority in order to preserve the even greater values of freedom of expression and the right of the people to know.” Murray Gurfein ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom depends on both strong institutions and a free press; a critical press, however harsh, is essential for an informed public. **In simple terms:** Free press protects freedom. Key Takeaway Support independent media. Themes freedom press institutions Mood thoughtful serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - journalism - civic education Key Concepts democracy accountability Questions to Reflect On - How should societies handle misinformation? - What safeguards protect press independence? A Different Perspective Press can be weaponized; balance needed between freedom and responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom of expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-expression/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [“The security of the nation is not at the ramparts alone,” the judge wrote in a passage that has been quoted ever since. “Security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-sheinkin/the-security-of-the-nation-is-not-at-the-ramparts-alone-the-judge/) [Steve Sheinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-sheinkin/) > [A cantankerous press, an obstinate press, a ubiquitous press must be suffered by those in authority in order to preserve the even greater values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-gurfein/a-cantankerous-press-an-obstinate-press-a-ubiquitous-press-must-be/) Murray Gurfein > [The security of the Nation is not at the ramparts alone. Security also lies in the value of our free institutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-gurfein/the-security-of-the-nation-is-not-at-the-ramparts-alone-security-also/) Murray Gurfein > [A cantankerous press, an obstinate press, a ubiquitous press, must be suffered by those in authority in order to preserve the right of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-i-gurfein/a-cantankerous-press-an-obstinate-press-a-ubiquitous-press-must-be-2/) Murray I Gurfein > [Without an unfettered press, without liberty of speech, all of the outward forms and structures of free institutions are a sham, a pretense -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-borah/without-an-unfettered-press-without-liberty-of-speech-all-of-the/) [William Borah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-borah/) > [When free discussion is denied, hardening of the arteries of democracy has set in, free institutions are but a lifeless form, and the death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-randolph-hearst/when-free-discussion-is-denied-hardening-of-the-arteries-of-democracy/) [William Randolph Hearst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-randolph-hearst/) > [“When Mr. Lippmann says that the founders of our free institutions were adherents of the philosophy of natural law, and that ‘the free political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-joseph-oakeshott/when-mr-lippmann-says-that-the-founders-of-our-free-institutions-were/) [Michael Joseph Oakeshott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-joseph-oakeshott/) > [Were there no contrariety of interests, nothing would be more simple and easy than to form and preserve free institutions. 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The rights of the majority are limited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/free-institutions-are-not-the-property-of-any-majority-they-do-not/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [I am aware how difficult is the task to preserve free institutions over so wide a space and so immense a population, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-calhoun/i-am-aware-how-difficult-is-the-task-to-preserve-free-institutions/) [John C. Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-calhoun/) > [Men may die, but the fabric of our free institutions remains unshaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-a-arthur/men-may-die-but-the-fabric-of-our-free-institutions-remains-unshaken/) [Chester A. Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-a-arthur/) > [On the diffusion of education among the people rest the preservation and perpetuation of our free institutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/on-the-diffusion-of-education-among-the-people-rest-the-preservation/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [It may be affirmed, without extravagance, that the free institutions we enjoy, have developed the powers, and improved the condition, of our whole people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-may-be-affirmed-without-extravagance-that-the-free-institutions-we/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More by Murray Gurfein > [A cantankerous press, an obstinate press, a ubiquitous press must be suffered by those in authority in order to preserve the even greater values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-gurfein/a-cantankerous-press-an-obstinate-press-a-ubiquitous-press-must-be/) Murray Gurfein > [The security of the Nation is not at the ramparts alone. Security also lies in the value of our free institutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-gurfein/the-security-of-the-nation-is-not-at-the-ramparts-alone-security-also/) Murray Gurfein Explore all 3 Murray Gurfein quotes ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. 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