--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Liberty in the United States will never…" description: "\"Liberty in the United States will never be reestablished so long as elites and masses alike look to the president to perform supernatural feats and the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/robert-higgs-12637_constitutional-gover_liberty-in-the-united-states-will-never_650355.jpg" --- # Liberty in the United States will never be reestablished… ![“Liberty in the United States will never be reestablished so long as elites and masses alike look to the president to perform supernatural feats and therefore tolerate a virtually unlimited exercise of presidential power. Until we can restore limited, constitutional government in this country, God…” quote by Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/robert-higgs-12637_constitutional-gover_liberty-in-the-united-states-will-never_650355.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/robert-higgs-12637_constitutional-gover_liberty-in-the-united-states-will-never_650355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/robert-higgs-12637_constitutional-gover_liberty-in-the-united-states-will-never_650355.jpg) > “Liberty in the United States will never be reestablished so long as elites and masses alike look to the president to perform supernatural feats and therefore tolerate a virtually unlimited exercise of presidential power. Until we can restore limited, constitutional government in this country, God save us from great presidents.” [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Concentration of power in a president threatens constitutional limits; restoring balance requires limiting executive authority. **In simple terms:** Too much presidential power endangers liberty. Key Takeaway Support checks and balances. Themes politics power constitution Mood concerned urgent Type political analytical When to use this quote - elections - policy reform - public discourse Key Concepts limited government civic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens effectively curb executive overreach? - What safeguards best protect constitutional limits? A Different Perspective Reducing power may be difficult in crises demanding strong leadership. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitutional government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutional-government/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Feats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feats/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Great presidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-presidents/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Limited Constitutional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limited-constitutional-3112662/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Presidential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidential/) [Presidential power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidential-power/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [States Reestablished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states-reestablished-5202760/) [Tolerate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerate/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Unlimited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlimited/) ## Related quotes > [Our federal government, which was intended to operate as a very limited constitutional republic, has instead become a virtually socialist leviathan that redistributes trillions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/our-federal-government-which-was-intended-to-operate-as-a-very/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [We are in desperate need of a return to limited, constitutional government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-long/we-are-in-desperate-need-of-a-return-to-limited-constitutional/) [Wendy Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-long/) > [“In truth, there will never be enough power in the presidency for an incumbent to make good on a purely constructive leadership project, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-skowronek/in-truth-there-will-never-be-enough-power-in-the-presidency-for-an/) [Stephen Skowronek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-skowronek/) > [For presidential power to meaningfully expand, it is not enough for a president to simply make a power grab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/for-presidential-power-to-meaningfully-expand-it-is-not-enough-for-a/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) > [Presidential power is the power to persuade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-neustadt/presidential-power-is-the-power-to-persuade/) [Richard Neustadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-neustadt/) > [Presidential power was overruled by the high bench in July 1974, when President Nixon was ordered to turn over some audio tapes of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/presidential-power-was-overruled-by-the-high-bench-in-july-1974-when/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [When you have a president in his campaign who ran saying things that not are just contrary to a fact, but literally threatening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/when-you-have-a-president-in-his-campaign-who-ran-saying-things-that/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [I don't doubt that there are many presidential acts that would constitute obstructions of justice if anyone but the president engaged in them but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/i-don-t-doubt-that-there-are-many-presidential-acts-that-would/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [Vice President Dick Cheney reportedly has been disturbed over what he sees as the erosion of presidential powers since the Watergate scandal and has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/vice-president-dick-cheney-reportedly-has-been-disturbed-over-what-he/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [President Bush has asserted the right to wiretap and eavesdrop on any American without a warrant in the name of fighting terrorism. He has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/president-bush-has-asserted-the-right-to-wiretap-and-eavesdrop-on-any/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [Not a season passes without new disclosures showing Nixon's numerous attempts at criminal use of his presidential powers and in fact the scorn he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/not-a-season-passes-without-new-disclosures-showing-nixon-s-numerous/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-will-be-of-little-avail-to-the-people-that-the-laws-are-made-by/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-in-the-opinion-of-the-people-the-distribution-or-modification-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised - and it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-is-afraid-of-an-informed-angry-public-demanding-the-constitutional/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) ## More by Robert Higgs > [Recipients of transfers set a bad example for others, including their children, other relatives, and friends, who see that one can receive goods, services,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/recipients-of-transfers-set-a-bad-example-for-others-including-their/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [In debates between anarchists and statists, the burden of proof clearly should rest on those who place their trust in the state. Anarchy's mayhem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/in-debates-between-anarchists-and-statists-the-burden-of-proof/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [“Anarchists did not try to carry out genocide against the Armenians in Turkey; they did not deliberately starve millions of Ukrainians; they did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/anarchists-did-not-try-to-carry-out-genocide-against-the-armenians-in/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [We need to have a modicum of faith in people's common sense, creativity and will to survive and prosper even in the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/we-need-to-have-a-modicum-of-faith-in-people-s-common-sense/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [To continue on the road we Americans have traveled for the past century is ultimately to deliver ourselves completely into the hands of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/to-continue-on-the-road-we-americans-have-traveled-for-the-past/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [Inflation is not a benign element in the economy's operation. It is, as it has always been, the most dangerous and destructive form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/inflation-is-not-a-benign-element-in-the-economy-s-operation-it-is-as/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [Until the 1930s, the Constitution served as a major constraint on federal economic interventionism. The government's powers were understood to be just as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/until-the-1930s-the-constitution-served-as-a-major-constraint-on/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [No doubt, anarchy, once established, might not last forever. But if your house is on fire, the sensible course of action is to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/no-doubt-anarchy-once-established-might-not-last-forever-but-if-your/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [By adopting programs to distribute substantial amounts of income, a nation guarantees that its government will become more powerful and invasive in other ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/by-adopting-programs-to-distribute-substantial-amounts-of-income-a/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [All nonstate threats to life, liberty, and property appear to be relatively petty and therefore can be dealt with. Only states can pose truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/all-nonstate-threats-to-life-liberty-and-property-appear-to-be/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [This is the true lesson of our history: war, preparation for war, and foreign military interventions have served for the most part not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/this-is-the-true-lesson-of-our-history-war-preparation-for-war-and/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [The beginning of political wisdom is the realization that despite everything you’ve always been taught, the government is not really on your side; indeed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/the-beginning-of-political-wisdom-is-the-realization-that-despite/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [“When the contentious questions are mainly economic (put aside such inflammatory but mainly noneconomic matters as capital punishment or abortion) they tend to fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/when-the-contentious-questions-are-mainly-economic-put-aside-such/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [For members of the political class, the crucial question is always: how can we push out the frontier, how can we augment the government's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/for-members-of-the-political-class-the-crucial-question-is-always-how/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [But politicians who talk about failed policies are just blowing smoke. Government policies succeed in doing exactly what they are supposed to do: channeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/but-politicians-who-talk-about-failed-policies-are-just-blowing-smoke/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) [Explore all 54 Robert Higgs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) ## More Constitutional government quotes > [It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised - and it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-is-afraid-of-an-informed-angry-public-demanding-the-constitutional/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-in-the-opinion-of-the-people-the-distribution-or-modification-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-will-be-of-little-avail-to-the-people-that-the-laws-are-made-by/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [The American founding is not just about a group of people, a group of men. It is about an ideal: Both a vision and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/the-american-founding-is-not-just-about-a-group-of-people-a-group-of/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [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/) > [It is a remarkable fact in the political history of man that there is scarcely an instance of a free constitutional government which has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-calhoun/it-is-a-remarkable-fact-in-the-political-history-of-man-that-there-is/) [John C. 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