--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's time we ask ourselves if we…" description: "\"I think it's time we ask ourselves if we still know the freedoms that were intended for us by the Founding Fathers... Whether we believe in our capacit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/ronald-reagan-119_abandon_i-think-it-s-time-we-ask-ourselves-if-we_2033102.jpg" --- # I think it's time we ask ourselves if we still know the… ![“I think it's time we ask ourselves if we still know the freedoms that were intended for us by the Founding Fathers... Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan…” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/ronald-reagan-119_abandon_i-think-it-s-time-we-ask-ourselves-if-we_2033102.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/ronald-reagan-119_abandon_i-think-it-s-time-we-ask-ourselves-if-we_2033102.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/ronald-reagan-119_abandon_i-think-it-s-time-we-ask-ourselves-if-we_2033102.jpg) > “I think it's time we ask ourselves if we still know the freedoms that were intended for us by the Founding Fathers... Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them for ourselves.” [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We must question whether we truly understand the freedoms intended by the Founders, and resist elite control over self‑governance. **In simple terms:** Reexamine true freedom. Key Takeaway Guard democracy. Themes freedom self‑government elitism Mood critical concerned Type political motivational When to use this quote - voting - community activism - education reform - public discourse Key Concepts political philosophy civic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - Do you trust institutions with your freedom? - How can citizens reclaim self‑government? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on elite solutions can erode individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-revolution/) [Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding-fathers/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedoms/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self-government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-government/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [It's time we asked ourselves if we still know the freedoms intended for us by the Founding Fathers. James Madison said, We base all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-time-we-asked-ourselves-if-we-still-know-the-freedoms-intended/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's easy to take freedom away from a people if they don't even know what those freedoms are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-johnson/it-s-easy-to-take-freedom-away-from-a-people-if-they-don-t-even-know/) [Mike Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-johnson/) > [ They \[the Founding Fathers\] were intent upon establishing a Christian commonwealth in accordance with the principle of self-government. They were an inspired body of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/they-the-founding-fathers-were-intent-upon-establishing-a-christian/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Our Founding Fathers deliberately used the Bible as their guide. They tried to ensure that schools, likewise, use the Bible to teach Christian self-government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-s-wheeler/our-founding-fathers-deliberately-used-the-bible-as-their-guide-they/) Richard S. Wheeler > [“The American Revolution was characterized by three basic freedoms: economic freedom or capitalism, political freedom or constitutional democracy, and freedom of speech and religion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/the-american-revolution-was-characterized-by-three-basic-freedoms/) [Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/) > [“In this book the reader will find, I hope, an antidote for historical amnesia. To this day, the public remembers the Revolution mostly in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-b-nash/in-this-book-the-reader-will-find-i-hope-an-antidote-for-historical/) Gary B. Nash > [“Give me liberty or give me death." \[From a speech given at Saint John's Church in Richmond, Virginia on March 23, 1775 to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/give-me-liberty-or-give-me-death-from-a-speech-given-at-saint-john-s/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [“The major premises of Christian religions are (1) the idea of Original Sin and (2) the belief in salvation through faith. Deists totally opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-sj/the-major-premises-of-christian-religions-are-1-the-idea-of-original/) [Monica Sjöö](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-sj/) > [“New Englanders began the Revolution not to institute reforms and changes in the order of things, but to save the institutions and customs that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-pearson-pressey/new-englanders-began-the-revolution-not-to-institute-reforms-and/) [Edward Pearson Pressey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-pearson-pressey/) > [“Without the pen of Paine , the sword of Washington would have been wielded in vain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/without-the-pen-of-paine-the-sword-of-washington-would-have-been/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“It was because 'in 1776 our fathers retired the gods from politics.' The basic principle of the American Republic is the freedom of man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/it-was-because-in-1776-our-fathers-retired-the-gods-from-politics-the/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“Chapter 4 Tyranny Is Tyranny Around 1776, certain important people in the English colonies made a discovery that would prove enormously useful for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/chapter-4-tyranny-is-tyranny-around-1776-certain-important-people-in/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The Declaration of Independence promised citizens equal access to economic opportunity. This was the powerful principle for which men were willing to fight the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-cox-richardson/the-declaration-of-independence-promised-citizens-equal-access-to/) [Heather Cox Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-cox-richardson/) > [“John Adams, by then one of the country's founding fathers, wrote to a friend: "I know not why we should blush to confess that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/john-adams-by-then-one-of-the-country-s-founding-fathers-wrote-to-a/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [ “The important point of this report \[Montague, Massachusetts; July 7, 1774\] may be summed up in six resolutions: 1. We approve of the plan… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-pearson-pressey/the-important-point-of-this-report-montague-massachusetts-july-7-1774/) [Edward Pearson Pressey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-pearson-pressey/) ## More by Ronald Reagan > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America - our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-time-has-come-to-turn-to-god-and-reassert-our-trust-in-him-for/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/professional-politicians-like-to-talk-about-the-value-of-experience/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Where there's liberty, art succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/where-there-s-liberty-art-succeeds/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-moment-i-ve-been-dreading-george-brought-his-ne-re-do-well-son/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [On Father's Day, we pay tribute to all in our society who have taken on the responsibilitie s and joys of fatherhood. Whether our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/on-father-s-day-we-pay-tribute-to-all-in-our-society-who-have-taken/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's not that liberals aren't smart, it's just that so much of what they know isn't so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-not-that-liberals-aren-t-smart-it-s-just-that-so-much-of-what/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/love-your-country-not-for-her-power-or-wealth-but-for-her/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Explore all 1,244 Ronald Reagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More Abandon quotes > [Humans are, as Sartre put it, 'condemned to be free'. 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Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-l-osborn/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I would leave at once, but it would be cruel to abandon a lady in a foreign land with a maniac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-would-leave-at-once-but-it-would-be-cruel-to-abandon-a-lady-in-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [When we fall utterly, something gathers us up. But our falling must be without reservation, without expectation, without hope, though not hopeless. You cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-fall-utterly-something-gathers-us-up-but-our-falling-must-be/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) > [every subjective phenomenon is essentially connected with a single point of view, and it seems inevitable that an objective, physical theory will abandon that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nagel/every-subjective-phenomenon-is-essentially-connected-with-a-single/) [Thomas Nagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nagel/) > [Can you dissolve your ego? Can you abandon the idea of self and other? Can you relinquish the notions of male and female, short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/can-you-dissolve-your-ego-can-you-abandon-the-idea-of-self-and-other/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Every great thing starts with an idea, followed by a doubt and finally a resolve to abandon or pursue. Victory is a treacherous journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/every-great-thing-starts-with-an-idea-followed-by-a-doubt-and-finally/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [Those who have been once intoxicated with power, and have derived any kind of emolument from it, even though but for one year, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/those-who-have-been-once-intoxicated-with-power-and-have-derived-any/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Do not lose hope; St. Joseph also experienced moments of difficulty, but he never lost faith and was able to overcome them, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-not-lose-hope-st-joseph-also-experienced-moments-of-difficulty-but/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. 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