--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My belief has always been that national…" description: "\"My belief has always been that national defense is the most important thing we do, but we shouldn't borrow to pay for it.\" — Rand Paul" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/rand-paul-606_belief_my-belief-has-always-been-that-national_906861.jpg" --- # My belief has always been that national defense is the… ![“My belief has always been that national defense is the most important thing we do, but we shouldn't borrow to pay for it.” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/rand-paul-606_belief_my-belief-has-always-been-that-national_906861.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/rand-paul-606_belief_my-belief-has-always-been-that-national_906861.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/rand-paul-606_belief_my-belief-has-always-been-that-national_906861.jpg) > “My belief has always been that national defense is the most important thing we do, but we shouldn't borrow to pay for it.” [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. National defense is vital, yet financing it through debt undermines long‑term stability and fiscal health. **In simple terms:** Defense is important, but avoid debt. Key Takeaway Prioritize sustainable defense funding. Themes defense fiscal policy national security Mood cautious analytical Type policy strategic When to use this quote - Policy making - budget planning - public debate - military procurement Key Concepts Budget constraints economic sustainability Questions to Reflect On - What alternative funding could support defense? - How to debt affect future generations? A Different Perspective Balancing security needs with debt limits is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [National defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-defense/) ## Related quotes > [What I say is, national defense is the most important thing we do in Washington, but there's still waste in the military budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/what-i-say-is-national-defense-is-the-most-important-thing-we-do-in/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Benjamin Netanyahu said that ultimately, they will be stronger when they're independent. My position is exactly the same. We shouldn't borrow money from China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/benjamin-netanyahu-said-that-ultimately-they-will-be-stronger-when/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [The jelly-bean eating thug says that national defense is important. But national defense starts at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/the-jelly-bean-eating-thug-says-that-national-defense-is-important/) [Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/) > [Those to whom defense is not important will have the best seat in the game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-majerus/those-to-whom-defense-is-not-important-will-have-the-best-seat-in-the/) [Rick Majerus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-majerus/) > [Local defense will always be important. But there is no local defense which alone will contain the mighty land power of the Communist world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-foster-dulles/local-defense-will-always-be-important-but-there-is-no-local-defense/) [John Foster Dulles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-foster-dulles/) > [Defense is so important for helping your team win games and for the game in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-gobert/defense-is-so-important-for-helping-your-team-win-games-and-for-the/) [Rudy Gobert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-gobert/) > [Self-defense is so important to know in today's society. It's not just that you might get mugged. It's more for confidence. It's the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milla-jovovich/self-defense-is-so-important-to-know-in-today-s-society-it-s-not-just/) [Milla Jovovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milla-jovovich/) > [For me, defense is something that's important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/for-me-defense-is-something-that-s-important/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [Yeah, I think the idea for every offense is to have an identity and to be able to play fast, play quicker, put stress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-jones/yeah-i-think-the-idea-for-every-offense-is-to-have-an-identity-and-to/) [Mac Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-jones/) > [To those who don't think defense is important, you'll get the best seat on the bench.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-majerus/to-those-who-don-t-think-defense-is-important-you-ll-get-the-best/) [Rick Majerus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-majerus/) > [I think that we're always gonna be in a position as Republicans and as conservatives where we gotta be willing to stand up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cheney/i-think-that-we-re-always-gonna-be-in-a-position-as-republicans-and/) [Liz Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cheney/) > [The success of this Government, and thus the success of our Nation, depends in the last analysis upon the quality.of our career services. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-success-of-this-government-and-thus-the-success-of-our-nation/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-is-no-plausible-theory-under-which-the-record-of-the-pentagon/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [To talk only about national security, national defense, means to be selfish, ambitious. It is discrimination, isolation. "It is just me. What do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/to-talk-only-about-national-security-national-defense-means-to-be/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) > [We will build a Navy of 350 surface ships and submarines, as recommended by the bipartisan National Defense Panel. We right now only have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-build-a-navy-of-350-surface-ships-and-submarines-as/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More by Rand Paul > [I have a question, a question for the president: Do you hate all rich people, or just rich people who don't contribute to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-have-a-question-a-question-for-the-president-do-you-hate-all-rich/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [There comes a time, in the history of Nations when fear and forgetfulness cause a nation to hesitate, to waver and perhaps even to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/there-comes-a-time-in-the-history-of-nations-when-fear-and/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I believe people ought to be treated fairly under the law. I see no reason why if the marriage contract conveys certain things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-believe-people-ought-to-be-treated-fairly-under-the-law-i-see-no/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think that, most importantly, when I see issues of war, I see them in a personal vein, and I am reluctant to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-that-most-importantly-when-i-see-issues-of-war-i-see-them-in/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I would have handled it differently than the mayor of Baltimore, that's for sure. I think it's a mistake to say, hey, guys, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-have-handled-it-differently-than-the-mayor-of-baltimore-that/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We have to think before we act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-have-to-think-before-we-act/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I would introduce and support legislation to send Roe v. Wade back to the states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-introduce-and-support-legislation-to-send-roe-v-wade-back-to/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [President Obama, I think, wanted what was best for the country, but I think it didn't work well. I think we have the death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/president-obama-i-think-wanted-what-was-best-for-the-country-but-i/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think it's a mistake to downgrade and say surveillance is no big deal. It is a huge deal that we are collecting millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-downgrade-and-say-surveillance-is-no-big/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We need a revival in the country,” Paul said. “We need another Great Awakening with tent revivals of thousands of people saying, 'reform or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-need-a-revival-in-the-country-paul-said-we-need-another-great/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We do not project power from bankruptcy court. We're borrowing a million dollars a minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-do-not-project-power-from-bankruptcy-court-we-re-borrowing-a/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can use most of the tools that every American teenager can master. Maybe not all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-use-most-of-the-tools-that-every-american-teenager-can-master/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) [Explore all 449 Rand Paul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [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/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. 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