---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The militia is our ultimate safety. We…"
description: "\"The militia is our ultimate safety. We can have no security without it. The great object is that every man be armed.\" — Patrick Henry"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/patrick-henry-3071_armed_the-militia-is-our-ultimate-safety-we-ca_2048643.png"
---

#  The militia is our ultimate safety. We can have no…

![“The militia is our ultimate safety. We can have no security without it. The great object is that every man be armed.” quote by Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/patrick-henry-3071_armed_the-militia-is-our-ultimate-safety-we-ca_2048643.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/patrick-henry-3071_armed_the-militia-is-our-ultimate-safety-we-ca_2048643.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/patrick-henry-3071_armed_the-militia-is-our-ultimate-safety-we-ca_2048643.png)

> “The militia is our ultimate safety. We can have no security without it. The great object is that every man be armed.”

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

## About This Quote

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

Advocates that an armed populace ensures safety and deters oppression.

**In simple terms:** Armed citizens protect freedom.

Key Takeaway

Support civilian gun ownership.

Themes

freedom security self-reliance

Mood

defensive assertive

Type

political historical

When to use this quote

- self-defense
- political activism
- community safety
- deterrence of tyranny

Key Concepts

political philosophy civil liberties

Questions to Reflect On

- How does an armed citizenry prevent tyranny?
- What are the limits of self-defense?

A Different Perspective

May overlook risks of violence and misuse of weapons.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Armed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Every man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) [Man Armed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-armed-1122463/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Militia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/militia/) [Militia Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/militia-ultimate-3848716/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Security Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security-great-762520/) [Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate/)

## Related quotes

> [“The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/the-great-object-is-that-every-man-be-armed-everyone-who-is-able-may/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/guard-with-jealous-attention-the-public-liberty-suspect-everyone-who/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [The great object is that every man be armed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/the-great-object-is-that-every-man-be-armed/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [When you've got a new family, any kind of security you can have is great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-ve-got-a-new-family-any-kind-of-security-you-can-have-is/)

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

> [Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/laws-that-forbid-the-carrying-of-arms-disarm-only-those-who-are/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Just able barely to mount a horse and ride about a little in the spring of 1866, my life was threatened daily, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-james/just-able-barely-to-mount-a-horse-and-ride-about-a-little-in-the/)

[Jesse James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-james/)

> [There is no personal right to be armed for private purposes unrelated to the service in a well regulated militia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brady/there-is-no-personal-right-to-be-armed-for-private-purposes-unrelated/)

[Sarah Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brady/)

> [Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation… Notwithstanding the military establishments in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/besides-the-advantage-of-being-armed-which-the-americans-possess-over/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [Hezbollah and the government are only two of 18 political factions in Lebanon, most of them armed. There are militant Christian groups, Palestinian radicals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/hezbollah-and-the-government-are-only-two-of-18-political-factions-in/)

[Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/)

> [Little more can reasonably be aimed at with respect to the people at large than to have them properly armed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/little-more-can-reasonably-be-aimed-at-with-respect-to-the-people-at/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [Illegal killings of elephants are being linked to organized crime and the funding of armed militia groups. Many consumers in Asia do not realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-bingbing/illegal-killings-of-elephants-are-being-linked-to-organized-crime-and/)

[Li Bingbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-bingbing/)

> [For an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/for-an-unarmed-man-may-be-attacked-with-greater-confidence-than-an/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Man armed with science is like a baby with a box of matches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-s-haldane/man-armed-with-science-is-like-a-baby-with-a-box-of-matches/)

[John B. S. Haldane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-s-haldane/)

> [A man armed with a rhyming dictionary is a dangerous man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/a-man-armed-with-a-rhyming-dictionary-is-a-dangerous-man/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [Away with your president! We shall have a king... the army will salute him as monarch; your militia will leave you and assist in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/away-with-your-president-we-shall-have-a-king-the-army-will-salute/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

## More by Patrick Henry

> [You ought to be extremely cautious, watchful, jealous of your liberty; for instead of securing your rights, you may lose them forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/you-ought-to-be-extremely-cautious-watchful-jealous-of-your-liberty/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/guard-with-jealous-attention-the-public-liberty-suspect-everyone-who/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give them, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/i-have-now-disposed-of-all-my-property-to-my-family-there-is-one/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [My great objection to this government is, that it does not leave us the means of defending our rights, or of waging war against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/my-great-objection-to-this-government-is-that-it-does-not-leave-us/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [“When the American Spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different; Liberty, sir, was then the primary object.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/when-the-american-spirit-was-in-its-youth-the-language-of-america-was/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [Shall we, who have laid the proud British lion at our feet, now be afraid of his whelps?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/shall-we-who-have-laid-the-proud-british-lion-at-our-feet-now-be/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [It is when a people forget God, that tyrants forge their chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/it-is-when-a-people-forget-god-that-tyrants-forge-their-chains/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [That religion, or the duty we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/that-religion-or-the-duty-we-owe-to-our-creator-and-the-manner-of/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [I shall act as I think my duty requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/i-shall-act-as-i-think-my-duty-requires/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [It is the business of a virtuous clergy to censure vice in every appearance of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/it-is-the-business-of-a-virtuous-clergy-to-censure-vice-in-every/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [Being a Christian... is a character which I prize far above all this world has or can boast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/being-a-christian-is-a-character-which-i-prize-far-above-all-this/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [Jealousy is the only vice that gives no pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/jealousy-is-the-only-vice-that-gives-no-pleasure/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> […I am sure that the dangers of this system (the Federal Constitution) are real, when those who have no similar interest with the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/i-am-sure-that-the-dangers-of-this-system-the-federal-constitution/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it! Almighty God! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/is-life-so-dear-or-peace-so-sweet-as-to-be-purchased-at-the-price-of/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/that-religion-or-the-duty-which-we-owe-to-our-creator-and-the-manner/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

[Explore all 139 Patrick Henry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

## More Armed quotes

> [Liberty does not exist where rights are on one side and power on the other. To be liberty, rights must be armed with vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-quintus-cincinnatus-lamar-ii/liberty-does-not-exist-where-rights-are-on-one-side-and-power-on-the/)

[Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-quintus-cincinnatus-lamar-ii/)

> [“Have you ever done this before?" "Done what?" "Attacked two armed men with sticks?" "No, but I'm looking forward to it," he smiled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lenahan/have-you-ever-done-this-before-done-what-attacked-two-armed-men-with/)

[John Lenahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lenahan/)

> [I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe that the Armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-pace/i-believe-that-homosexual-acts-between-individuals-are-immoral-and/)

[Peter Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-pace/)

> [“Keep in mind that without the law, we’re not a military, just an armed gang that dresses alike.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marko-kloos/keep-in-mind-that-without-the-law-we-re-not-a-military-just-an-armed/)

[Marko Kloos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marko-kloos/)

> [Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/laws-that-forbid-the-carrying-of-arms-disarm-only-those-who-are/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [We've had Saudis and Jordanians and Pakistanis who have - and Syrians - who have been involved in armed attacks against coalition forces in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/we-ve-had-saudis-and-jordanians-and-pakistanis-who-have-and-syrians/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [Scotland forms a crucial part of our Armed Forces which should not be jeopardised by rushed cuts or a rush to the exit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-hammond/scotland-forms-a-crucial-part-of-our-armed-forces-which-should-not-be/)

[Philip Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-hammond/)

> [For an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/for-an-unarmed-man-may-be-attacked-with-greater-confidence-than-an/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Moroccan traffic isn't like normal traffic. It's armed combat, a war of wills, in which only the very bravest have a chance to survive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahir-shah/moroccan-traffic-isn-t-like-normal-traffic-it-s-armed-combat-a-war-of/)

[Tahir Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahir-shah/)

> [I have deep respect for our armed forces and jawans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-kumaraswamy/i-have-deep-respect-for-our-armed-forces-and-jawans/)

[H. D. Kumaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-kumaraswamy/)

> [“Neither the Russians nor the Americans were the cleverest people, or the most experienced, in the world that followed 1945. The French were rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-fehrenbach-2/neither-the-russians-nor-the-americans-were-the-cleverest-people-or/)

[T.R. Fehrenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-fehrenbach-2/)

> [“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/guard-with-jealous-attention-the-public-liberty-suspect-everyone-who/)

[Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/)

> [These men were religious when the spirit of religion was buried in forms and ceremonies, and when the priesthood had armed itself with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-a-hitchcock/these-men-were-religious-when-the-spirit-of-religion-was-buried-in/)

[Ethan A. Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-a-hitchcock/)

> [“How do you have an armed siege without guns?’ ‘She used Olympic standard archery equipment,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livia-day/how-do-you-have-an-armed-siege-without-guns-she-used-olympic-standard/)

[Livia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livia-day/)

> [A free people ought...to be armed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/a-free-people-ought-to-be-armed/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

[Browse all 267 Armed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The militia is our ultimate safety. We can have no security without it. The great object is that every man be armed.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Patrick Henry"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/the-militia-is-our-ultimate-safety-we-can-have-no-security-without-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Armed"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/the-militia-is-our-ultimate-safety-we-can-have-no-security-without-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/patrick-henry-3071_armed_the-militia-is-our-ultimate-safety-we-ca_2048643.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/patrick-henry-3071_armed_the-militia-is-our-ultimate-safety-we-ca_2048643.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/patrick-henry-3071_armed_the-militia-is-our-ultimate-safety-we-ca_2048643.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The militia is our ultimate safety. We can have no security without it. The great object is that every man…” — Patrick Henry",
                "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": "Patrick Henry",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The militia is our ultimate safety....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/the-militia-is-our-ultimate-safety-we-can-have-no-security-without-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/the-militia-is-our-ultimate-safety-we-can-have-no-security-without-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
