--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The constitution ought to secure a…" description: "\"The constitution ought to secure a genuine militia and guard against a select militia. ...All regulations tending to render this general militia useles..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/richard-henry-lee-32108_amendment_the-constitution-ought-to-secure-a-genui_2836482.png" --- # The constitution ought to secure a genuine militia and… ![“The constitution ought to secure a genuine militia and guard against a select militia. ...All regulations tending to render this general militia useless and defenseless, by establishing select corps of militia, or distinct bodies of military men, not having permanent interests and attachments to…” quote by Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/richard-henry-lee-32108_amendment_the-constitution-ought-to-secure-a-genui_2836482.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/richard-henry-lee-32108_amendment_the-constitution-ought-to-secure-a-genui_2836482.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/richard-henry-lee-32108_amendment_the-constitution-ought-to-secure-a-genui_2836482.png) > “The constitution ought to secure a genuine militia and guard against a select militia. ...All regulations tending to render this general militia useless and defenseless, by establishing select corps of militia, or distinct bodies of military men, not having permanent interests and attachments to the community ought to be avoided.” [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates for a broad, community‑linked militia over a selective, professional force. **In simple terms:** Militia should be citizen‑based, not elite. Key Takeaway Support community‑based defense. Themes military constitution citizenry Mood historical thoughtful Type political strategic When to use this quote - public policy - historical study - community organizing - security planning Key Concepts civic duty defense policy Questions to Reflect On - How can citizen militias function today? - What safeguards prevent misuse? A Different Perspective May not address modern security complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Attachment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attachment/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Military man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-man/) [Militia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/militia/) [Regulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regulation/) ## Related quotes > [First, the constitution ought to secure a genuine and guard against a select militia, by providing that the militia shall always be kept well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/first-the-constitution-ought-to-secure-a-genuine-and-guard-against-a/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [The argument that today's National Guardsmen, members of a select militia, would constitute the only persons entitled to keep and bear arms has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-lee-malcolm/the-argument-that-today-s-national-guardsmen-members-of-a-select/) Joyce Lee Malcolm > [I was a military man for 27 years. I fought so long as there was no chance for peace. I believe that there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-rabin/i-was-a-military-man-for-27-years-i-fought-so-long-as-there-was-no/) [Yitzhak Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-rabin/) > [“Osama, baah!" Bashir roared. "Osama is not a product of Pakistan or Afghanistan. He is a creation of America. Thanks to America, Osama is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/osama-baah-bashir-roared-osama-is-not-a-product-of-pakistan-or/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [I didn't choose to write a military man as much as Vince Haven chose me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/i-didn-t-choose-to-write-a-military-man-as-much-as-vince-haven-chose/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [“Nothing of the sort. I knew you came from Afghanistan. From long habit the train of thoughts ran so swiftly through my mind, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doyle-arthur-conan/nothing-of-the-sort-i-knew-you-came-from-afghanistan-from-long-habit/) Doyle, Arthur Conan > [A change of opinions is almost unknown in an elderly military man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/a-change-of-opinions-is-almost-unknown-in-an-elderly-military-man/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The war against Iraq is as disastrous as it is unnecessary; perhaps in terms of its wisdom, purpose and motives, the worst war in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/the-war-against-iraq-is-as-disastrous-as-it-is-unnecessary-perhaps-in/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/among-the-men-who-fought-on-iwo-jima-uncommon-valor-was-a-common/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [“He was a drool-worthy, panty-drenching, yummy work of masculine art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-moran/he-was-a-drool-worthy-panty-drenching-yummy-work-of-masculine-art/) [Kelly Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-moran/) > [For us military men, it is impossible to forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-grechko/for-us-military-men-it-is-impossible-to-forget/) Andrei Grechko > [There has been a constant struggle on the part of the military element to keep the end- fighting, or readiness to fight-superior to mere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-thayer-mahan/there-has-been-a-constant-struggle-on-the-part-of-the-military/) [Alfred Thayer Mahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-thayer-mahan/) > [“There’s nothing like a military man, even out of uniform.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/there-s-nothing-like-a-military-man-even-out-of-uniform/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [I'm a military man, I did what I did only because my country had to be saved from tribalism and feudalism. If I failed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/i-m-a-military-man-i-did-what-i-did-only-because-my-country-had-to-be/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [“You are a military man and should know better. If there is one science into which man has probed continuously and successfully, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/you-are-a-military-man-and-should-know-better-if-there-is-one-science/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## More by Richard Henry Lee > [Christianity, by introducing into Europe the truest principles of humanity, universal benevolence, and brotherly love, had happily abolished civil slavery. Let us who profess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/christianity-by-introducing-into-europe-the-truest-principles-of/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [If Parliament may take from me one shilling in the pound, what security have I for the other nineteen?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/if-parliament-may-take-from-me-one-shilling-in-the-pound-what/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/that-these-united-colonies-are-and-of-right-ought-to-be-free-and/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [So far as this has gone, I am satisfied to see a spirit prevailing that promises to send the system out free from those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/so-far-as-this-has-gone-i-am-satisfied-to-see-a-spirit-prevailing/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [Whereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/whereas-to-preserve-liberty-it-is-essential-that-the-whole-body-of/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves... and include all men capable of bearing arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/a-militia-when-properly-formed-are-in-fact-the-people-themselves-and/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [It must never be forgotten...that the liberties of the people are not so safe under the gracious manner of government as by the limitation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/it-must-never-be-forgotten-that-the-liberties-of-the-people-are-not/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/to-preserve-liberty-it-is-essential-that-the-whole-body-of-people/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [ Militias, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves and include all men capable of bearing arms. \[...\] To preserve liberty it is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/militias-when-properly-formed-are-in-fact-the-people-themselves-and/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [ Trial by jury in civil causes,... trial by jury in criminal causes, \[and\] the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus... all stand on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/trial-by-jury-in-civil-causes-trial-by-jury-in-criminal-causes-and/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [The first maxim of a man who loves liberty, should be never to grant to rulers an atom of power that is not most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/the-first-maxim-of-a-man-who-loves-liberty-should-be-never-to-grant/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [If the federal constitution is to be construed so far in connection with the state constitutions, as to leave the trial by jury in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/if-the-federal-constitution-is-to-be-construed-so-far-in-connection/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/to-preserve-liberty-it-is-essential-that-the-whole-body-of-people-2/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [To say that a bad government must be established for fear of anarchy is really saying that we should kill ourselves for fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/to-say-that-a-bad-government-must-be-established-for-fear-of-anarchy/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [It is certainly true that a popular government cannot flourish without virtue in the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/it-is-certainly-true-that-a-popular-government-cannot-flourish/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) [Explore all 16 Richard Henry Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) ## More Amendment quotes > [There are a lot of people who want to retain the Eighth Amendment - I don't agree with that view myself - there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-want-to-retain-the-eighth-amendment-i/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [“Let's just make this easy. I'm in favor of a Constitutional amendment that would read something like this: 'Neither the federal government, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/let-s-just-make-this-easy-i-m-in-favor-of-a-constitutional-amendment/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [If you reduce the guns and the ammo, you'll reduce the murders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/if-you-reduce-the-guns-and-the-ammo-you-ll-reduce-the-murders/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Gun control laws don't work. What is worse, they act perversely. While legitimate users of firearms encounter intense regulation, scrutiny and bureaucratic control, illicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-polsby/gun-control-laws-don-t-work-what-is-worse-they-act-perversely-while/) Daniel D. Polsby > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Guns aren't the problem; sick people are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/guns-aren-t-the-problem-sick-people-are/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I don't think anybody who carries a rifle carries the future. Because I don't believe that you can really change the world by killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/i-don-t-think-anybody-who-carries-a-rifle-carries-the-future-because/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [“my folks wouldn't read a book if you put a gun to their dicks. but they read people all day long and always get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/my-folks-wouldn-t-read-a-book-if-you-put-a-gun-to-their-dicks-but/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [Anybody who pretends that how you read the 10th and 11th Amendment doesn't have a fundamental impact on the things we care about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/anybody-who-pretends-that-how-you-read-the-10th-and-11th-amendment/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-have-two-conflicting-traditions-in-this-country-i-think-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Country lyrics often reference the NRA and firearms ownership as a way of life. Artists such as John Rich, Toby Keith, Sara Evans and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-pavlich/country-lyrics-often-reference-the-nra-and-firearms-ownership-as-a/) [Katie Pavlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-pavlich/) > [“People who have attended Concealed Carry classes, and those already licensed, typically seem to demonstrate a higher degree of courtesy, responsibility and respect. Interestingly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-behr/people-who-have-attended-concealed-carry-classes-and-those-already/) [Gary Behr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-behr/) [Browse all 2,041 Amendment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The constitution ought to secure a genuine militia and guard against a select militia. ...All regulations tending to render this general militia useless and defenseless, by establishing select corps of militia, or distinct bodies of military men, not having permanent interests and attachments to the community ought to be avoided.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Henry Lee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/the-constitution-ought-to-secure-a-genuine-militia-and-guard-against/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amendment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/the-constitution-ought-to-secure-a-genuine-militia-and-guard-against/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/richard-henry-lee-32108_amendment_the-constitution-ought-to-secure-a-genui_2836482.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/richard-henry-lee-32108_amendment_the-constitution-ought-to-secure-a-genui_2836482.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/richard-henry-lee-32108_amendment_the-constitution-ought-to-secure-a-genui_2836482.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The constitution ought to secure a genuine militia and guard against a select militia. ...All regulations…” — Richard Henry Lee", "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": "Richard Henry Lee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The constitution ought to secure a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/the-constitution-ought-to-secure-a-genuine-militia-and-guard-against/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/the-constitution-ought-to-secure-a-genuine-militia-and-guard-against/#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 } } ] } ```