--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only security for the American people…" description: "\"The only security for the American people today, or for any people, is to be found through the control of force rather than the use of force.\" — Norman..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/norman-cousins-2488_american-people_the-only-security-for-the-american-peopl_2364216.png" --- # The only security for the American people today, or for… ![“The only security for the American people today, or for any people, is to be found through the control of force rather than the use of force.” quote by Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/norman-cousins-2488_american-people_the-only-security-for-the-american-peopl_2364216.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/norman-cousins-2488_american-people_the-only-security-for-the-american-peopl_2364216.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/norman-cousins-2488_american-people_the-only-security-for-the-american-peopl_2364216.png) > “The only security for the American people today, or for any people, is to be found through the control of force rather than the use of force.” [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It argues that true security comes from controlling force, not merely using it, emphasizing restraint over aggression. **In simple terms:** Control of force provides security, not its use. Key Takeaway Seek restraint over aggression. Themes security power ethics Mood analytical serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - military strategy - law enforcement Key Concepts political theory peace studies Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms ensure responsible control of force? - Can restraint replace necessary defense? A Different Perspective Controlling force can be difficult to enforce fairly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Use of force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-of-force/) ## Related quotes > [The chief duty of our federal government is the safety and security of the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-mcsally/the-chief-duty-of-our-federal-government-is-the-safety-and-security/) [Martha McSally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-mcsally/) > [President Trump's made it clear that his administration is going to put the safety and security of the American people first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/president-trump-s-made-it-clear-that-his-administration-is-going-to/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The most important responsibility of our government is to ensure the security of the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mast/the-most-important-responsibility-of-our-government-is-to-ensure-the/) [Brian Mast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mast/) > [President George W. Bush's aggressive war on Islamic terrorism produced a 100 percent perfect track record of keeping the United States safe from another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-crowley/president-george-w-bush-s-aggressive-war-on-islamic-terrorism/) [Monica Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-crowley/) > [When we talk about safety and security of the American people, politics falls aside pretty quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-frist/when-we-talk-about-safety-and-security-of-the-american-people/) [Bill Frist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-frist/) > [Let's put the safety and security of the American people first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/let-s-put-the-safety-and-security-of-the-american-people-first/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [We have to put America's security first. The American people - we on this stage need to open our ears. We need to open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/we-have-to-put-america-s-security-first-the-american-people-we-on/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [I will never, ever apologize for protecting the safety and security of the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-will-never-ever-apologize-for-protecting-the-safety-and-security-of/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [If I'm vice president of the United States and Donald Trump is president, we're going to put the safety and security of the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/if-i-m-vice-president-of-the-united-states-and-donald-trump-is/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I didn't spend a lot of time on national security the American people will be glad to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/i-didn-t-spend-a-lot-of-time-on-national-security-the-american-people/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [Even if it were, you run into the same problem with international commerce: if you create a device that is famous for compromised security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/even-if-it-were-you-run-into-the-same-problem-with-international/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [President Trump has no higher priority than the safety and security of the American people. And he made it clear in this election, particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/president-trump-has-no-higher-priority-than-the-safety-and-security/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [ \[T\]he course of this nation does not depend on the decisions of others. Whatever action is required, whenever action is necessary, I will defend… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/t-he-course-of-this-nation-does-not-depend-on-the-decisions-of-others/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“I will not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it. I will not yield; I will not rest; I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-will-not-forget-this-wound-to-our-country-or-those-who-inflicted-it/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We have to make sure that we are a force for peace and stability in the world, and that we're prepared to defend freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thad-cochran/we-have-to-make-sure-that-we-are-a-force-for-peace-and-stability-in/) [Thad Cochran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thad-cochran/) ## More by Norman Cousins > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Unobstructed access to facts can produce unlimited good only if it is matched by the desire and ability to find out what they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/unobstructed-access-to-facts-can-produce-unlimited-good-only-if-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What was significant about the laughter . . . was not just the fact that it provides internal exercise for a person . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-was-significant-about-the-laughter-was-not-just-the-fact-that-it/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [You are younger today than you will ever be again. Make use of it for the sake of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/you-are-younger-today-than-you-will-ever-be-again-make-use-of-it-for/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [On the quality of life: #1. Realize that each human being has a built-in capacity for recuperation and repair. #2. Recognize that the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/on-the-quality-of-life-1-realize-that-each-human-being-has-a-built-in/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What a man really says when he says that someone else can be persuaded by force, is that he himself is incapable of more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-a-man-really-says-when-he-says-that-someone-else-can-be/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is-the-belief-that-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The physician knows that his little black bag can carry him only so far and that the body's own healing system is the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-physician-knows-that-his-little-black-bag-can-carry-him-only-so/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [We are wide-eyed in contemplating the possibility that life may exist elsewhere in the universe, but we wear blinders when contemplating the possibilities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/we-are-wide-eyed-in-contemplating-the-possibility-that-life-may-exist/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The essence of man is imperfection. Failure is simply a price we pay to achieve success. If we learn to embrace that new definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-essence-of-man-is-imperfection-failure-is-simply-a-price-we-pay/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [My reason nourishes my faith and my faith my reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/my-reason-nourishes-my-faith-and-my-faith-my-reason/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The growth of the human mind is still high adventure, in many ways the highest adventure on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-growth-of-the-human-mind-is-still-high-adventure-in-many-ways-the/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Death is not the enemy; living in constant fear of it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/death-is-not-the-enemy-living-in-constant-fear-of-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [All this sensory input, which begins in the brain, has its effect throughout the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/all-this-sensory-input-which-begins-in-the-brain-has-its-effect/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Humanity today is not safe in the presence of humanity. The old cannibalism has given way to anonymous action in which the killer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/humanity-today-is-not-safe-in-the-presence-of-humanity-the-old/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) [Explore all 162 Norman Cousins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## More American people quotes > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) Victor Gold > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. 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The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. 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