--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Americans think their danger is…" description: "\"Americans think their danger is terrorists. They don't understand the terrorists cannot take away habeas corpus, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution… ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/paul-craig-roberts-3108_bill-of-rights_americans-think-their-danger-is-terroris_2910071.jpg" --- # Americans think their danger is terrorists. They don't… ![“Americans think their danger is terrorists. They don't understand the terrorists cannot take away habeas corpus, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution… The terrorists are not anything like the threat we face from our own government in the name of fighting terrorism… The American constitutional…” quote by Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/paul-craig-roberts-3108_bill-of-rights_americans-think-their-danger-is-terroris_2910071.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/paul-craig-roberts-3108_bill-of-rights_americans-think-their-danger-is-terroris_2910071.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/paul-craig-roberts-3108_bill-of-rights_americans-think-their-danger-is-terroris_2910071.jpg) > “Americans think their danger is terrorists. They don't understand the terrorists cannot take away habeas corpus, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution… The terrorists are not anything like the threat we face from our own government in the name of fighting terrorism… The American constitutional system is near to being overthrown” [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that the perceived terrorist threat distracts from the greater danger of government erosion of constitutional rights. **In simple terms:** People focus on external terrorists while government undermines freedoms. Key Takeaway Guard constitutional liberties against internal overreach. Themes freedom government power rights terrorism constitution Mood concerned critical Type political cautionary When to use this quote - public policy debates - legal reforms - citizen activism - media analysis Key Concepts civil liberties state overreach political complacency Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance security and liberty? - What signs indicate constitutional erosion? A Different Perspective It may overstate government threat without nuanced evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Americans Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-think/) [Bill of rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bill-of-rights/) [Bills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bills/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution Terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-terrorists-4186645/) [Corpus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corpus/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Danger Terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger-terrorists-3168463/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Fighting terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting-terrorism/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Habeas corpus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habeas-corpus/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Terrorism American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism-american-2163311/) [Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Understand Terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-terrorists-919707/) ## Related quotes > [Senseless violence is, almost by definition, hard to understand. Not that I can understand terrorists who kill from hate, but at least we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-estrich/senseless-violence-is-almost-by-definition-hard-to-understand-not/) [Susan Estrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-estrich/) > [The danger of terrorists and rogue states is compounded by the proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lieberman/the-danger-of-terrorists-and-rogue-states-is-compounded-by-the/) [Joe Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lieberman/) > [Twenty years ago the Oklahoma City bombing seared the concept of terrorism on American soil into our national consciousness and proved that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bridenstine/twenty-years-ago-the-oklahoma-city-bombing-seared-the-concept-of/) [Jim Bridenstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bridenstine/) > [In a world of inhumanity, war and terrorism, American citizenship is a very precious possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-schlafly/in-a-world-of-inhumanity-war-and-terrorism-american-citizenship-is-a/) [Phyllis Schlafly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-schlafly/) > [ I didn't say \[Steve Scalise\] was fanatically pro-Israel. I said I wouldn't vote for because he supports state of Israel which has committed terrorism… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/i-didn-t-say-steve-scalise-was-fanatically-pro-israel-i-said-i-wouldn/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [Either we're removing a dictator who currently has plans to fund terrorism against American citizens or -- if Bush is completely wrong and Eleanor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/either-we-re-removing-a-dictator-who-currently-has-plans-to-fund/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [We can't be dominated by ruthless terrorism and the American principle is that we never will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kennedy-smith/we-can-t-be-dominated-by-ruthless-terrorism-and-the-american/) [Jean Kennedy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kennedy-smith/) > [Ironically, the Canadian naval vessels, aircraft and personnel in the Persian Gulf I mentioned earlier who are fighting terrorism will provide more support indirectly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cellucci/ironically-the-canadian-naval-vessels-aircraft-and-personnel-in-the/) [Paul Cellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cellucci/) > [Publicly, we're saying we're better at fighting terrorism. Privately, we know that the bureaucracy has only gotten worse, since the high-level people are scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hunt/publicly-we-re-saying-we-re-better-at-fighting-terrorism-privately-we/) [David Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hunt/) > [Fighting terrorism is not unlike fighting a deadly cancer. It can't be treated just where it's visible - every diseased cell in the body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/fighting-terrorism-is-not-unlike-fighting-a-deadly-cancer-it-can-t-be/) [David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/) > [Israel, an embattled democracy, has been fighting terrorism for over 100 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/israel-an-embattled-democracy-has-been-fighting-terrorism-for-over/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [When you talk about aiding this country against that country or about fighting terrorism, when you actually take that decision and strip it down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-kaplan/when-you-talk-about-aiding-this-country-against-that-country-or-about/) [Robert D. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-kaplan/) > [I know that New York City remains the highest density urban area in the country and by far dedicates more of its own funds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-serrano/i-know-that-new-york-city-remains-the-highest-density-urban-area-in/) [Jose Serrano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-serrano/) > [We need new partnerships in fighting terrorism and building peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-lindh/we-need-new-partnerships-in-fighting-terrorism-and-building-peace/) [Anna Lindh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-lindh/) > [And it is essential that in fighting terrorism, sacrifices should not be made on democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bulent-ecevit/and-it-is-essential-that-in-fighting-terrorism-sacrifices-should-not/) [Bulent Ecevit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bulent-ecevit/) ## More by Paul Craig Roberts > [The great paradox of the civil rights revolution is that instead of enforcing and expanding equality before the law, the revolution created differential rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-great-paradox-of-the-civil-rights-revolution-is-that-instead-of/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [In 21st century America, capitalism has been unfettered from the regulations that democratized it and made it serve society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/in-21st-century-america-capitalism-has-been-unfettered-from-the/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [If liberals can seize our guns because they are dangerous, we have no chance of holding on to our cars and our homes. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/if-liberals-can-seize-our-guns-because-they-are-dangerous-we-have-no/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [War is the only destination to which Washington can lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/war-is-the-only-destination-to-which-washington-can-lead/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The only thing that can be expected from the next US president is more war, more murder, and more oppression of the gullible American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-only-thing-that-can-be-expected-from-the-next-us-president-is/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [Terrorists can endanger some of us, but the war on terror endangers us all. How much more can the Constitution be diminished before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/terrorists-can-endanger-some-of-us-but-the-war-on-terror-endangers-us/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [When America's Newspaper of Record is nothing but a propaganda ministry, what is America?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/when-america-s-newspaper-of-record-is-nothing-but-a-propaganda/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [I have no sympathy for debunking human achievements that, in the end, gave ordinary people liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/i-have-no-sympathy-for-debunking-human-achievements-that-in-the-end/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [If all countries are exceptional, the word loses its meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/if-all-countries-are-exceptional-the-word-loses-its-meaning/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [There are no free financial markets in America or, for that matter, anywhere in the Western word, and few, if any, free markets of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/there-are-no-free-financial-markets-in-america-or-for-that-matter/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The notion that Americans can be protected from "terror" by giving up the Bill of Rights is absurd. Democrats are complicit in this absurd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-notion-that-americans-can-be-protected-from-terror-by-giving-up/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [Americans have no idea why they have been at war in the Middle East, Asia and Africa for a decade. They don't realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/americans-have-no-idea-why-they-have-been-at-war-in-the-middle-east/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [There are enough fools in Washington to destroy the country without any help from Muslim terrorists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/there-are-enough-fools-in-washington-to-destroy-the-country-without/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [Every public institution in the United States and most private ones are corrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/every-public-institution-in-the-united-states-and-most-private-ones/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The office of U.S. Trade Representative was created in order to permit corporations to write law that serves only their interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-office-of-u-s-trade-representative-was-created-in-order-to-permit/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) [Explore all 139 Paul Craig Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) ## More Bill of rights quotes > [Some of the folks on both sides might be sincere, but it does seem as if it is only the opposition that cares about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/some-of-the-folks-on-both-sides-might-be-sincere-but-it-does-seem-as/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [“I have a recurring fantasy that one more article has been added to the Bill of Rights: the right to free access to imagination.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/i-have-a-recurring-fantasy-that-one-more-article-has-been-added-to/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [“manager’s bill of rights,” those basic things that you have a right to expect from your employees. Responsible employees: Are responsive to feedback Keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-andersen/manager-s-bill-of-rights-those-basic-things-that-you-have-a-right-to/) [Erika Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-andersen/) > [“To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them." -George Mason - Father of the Bill of Rights”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goodwin/to-disarm-the-people-is-the-best-and-most-effectual-way-to-enslave/) [Mark Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goodwin/) > [A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-bill-of-rights-is-what-the-people-are-entitled-to-against-every/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The average citizen expresses pride in the American Bill of Rights and then seeks to protect his real estate by restrictive covenants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-allen-overstreet/the-average-citizen-expresses-pride-in-the-american-bill-of-rights/) [Harry Allen Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-allen-overstreet/) > [“Among those liberties which we in this UNION claim for the child, due to him as a person, is freedom of thought, the function…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parents-national-education-union/among-those-liberties-which-we-in-this-union-claim-for-the-child-due/) [Parents' National Education Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parents-national-education-union/) > [To be patriotic is to be able to question government policy in times of crisis. To be patriotic is to stand up for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-al-arian/to-be-patriotic-is-to-be-able-to-question-government-policy-in-times/) [Sami Al-Arian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-al-arian/) > [Everybody now seems to be talking about democracy. I don't understand this. As I think of it, democracy isn't like a Sunday suit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/everybody-now-seems-to-be-talking-about-democracy-i-don-t-understand/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [We have a list of human rights - right to food, right to shelter, right to health, right to education, many such items which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/we-have-a-list-of-human-rights-right-to-food-right-to-shelter-right/) [Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/) > [If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-this-nation-is-to-be-wise-as-well-as-strong-if-we-are-to-achieve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In the first movement, our infancy as a species, we felt no separation from the natural world around us. Trees, rocks, and plants surrounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/in-the-first-movement-our-infancy-as-a-species-we-felt-no-separation/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [To take a single step beyond the boundaries specially drawn around the powers of Congress is to take possession of a boundless field of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-take-a-single-step-beyond-the-boundaries-specially-drawn-around/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Bill of Rights was Madison, I'm going with Madison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/bill-of-rights-was-madison-i-m-going-with-madison/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [The notion that Americans can be protected from "terror" by giving up the Bill of Rights is absurd. Democrats are complicit in this absurd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-notion-that-americans-can-be-protected-from-terror-by-giving-up/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) [Browse all 294 Bill of rights quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bill-of-rights/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Americans think their danger is terrorists. 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