--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our status as a free society and world…" description: "\"Our status as a free society and world power is not based on brute strength. When we've taken up arms, it has been for the defense of freedom for ourse..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/ronald-reagan-119_arms_our-status-as-a-free-society-and-world-p_735985.jpg" --- # Our status as a free society and world power is not based… ![“Our status as a free society and world power is not based on brute strength. When we've taken up arms, it has been for the defense of freedom for ourselves and for other peaceful nations who needed our help. But now, faced with the development of weapons with immense destructive power, we've no…” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/ronald-reagan-119_arms_our-status-as-a-free-society-and-world-p_735985.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/ronald-reagan-119_arms_our-status-as-a-free-society-and-world-p_735985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/ronald-reagan-119_arms_our-status-as-a-free-society-and-world-p_735985.jpg) > “Our status as a free society and world power is not based on brute strength. When we've taken up arms, it has been for the defense of freedom for ourselves and for other peaceful nations who needed our help. But now, faced with the development of weapons with immense destructive power, we've no choice but to maintain ready defense forces that are second to none. Yes, the cost is high, but the price of neglect would be infinitely higher.” [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. A strong defense is essential to protect freedom and aid peaceful nations, despite high costs, because neglect would be far worse. **In simple terms:** Defense protects freedom and helps others. Key Takeaway Invest in robust defense. Themes freedom defense responsibility leadership Mood determined serious Type political motivational When to use this quote - national security planning - foreign aid decisions - military budgeting - peacekeeping missions Key Concepts geopolitics deterrence ethical duty Questions to Reflect On - Is the cost of defense justified by the risk of neglect? - How can we balance defense with diplomatic efforts? A Different Perspective High defense spending can strain economies and provoke arms races. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Destructive power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destructive-power/) [Free society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-society/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglect/) [Peaceful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peaceful/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-power/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that the most essential element of our defense of freedom is our insistence on speaking out for the cause of religious liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-believe-that-the-most-essential-element-of-our-defense-of-freedom/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be questioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-right-of-the-citizens-to-bear-arms-in-defense-of-themselves-and/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/are-we-at-last-brought-to-such-humiliating-and-debasing-degradation/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [Iran is actively pursuing the development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-berman/iran-is-actively-pursuing-the-development-of-weapons-of-mass/) [Howard Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-berman/) > [Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/saddam-hussein-has-been-engaged-in-the-development-of-weapons-of-mass/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [If you support the war on drugs in its present form, then you're only paying lip-service to the defense of freedom, and you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/if-you-support-the-war-on-drugs-in-its-present-form-then-you-re-only/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [You know, you don't retreat in the defense of freedom. You don't retreat in the defense of moral government and limited government. You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-pearce/you-know-you-don-t-retreat-in-the-defense-of-freedom-you-don-t/) [Russell Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-pearce/) > [There's no greater service to this country than the defense of its freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/there-s-no-greater-service-to-this-country-than-the-defense-of-its/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [The defense of marriage is the defense of freedom. Neither of which is obsolete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/the-defense-of-marriage-is-the-defense-of-freedom-neither-of-which-is/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [While we shall never weary in the defense of freedom, neither shall we ever abandon the pursuit of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/while-we-shall-never-weary-in-the-defense-of-freedom-neither-shall-we/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I will continue to speak in defense of freedom until the day I die. It's just that simple. It's not even a choice. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-geller/i-will-continue-to-speak-in-defense-of-freedom-until-the-day-i-die-it/) [Pamela Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-geller/) > [It is an art in itself to compose a starting team, finding the balance between creative players and those with destructive powers, and between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rinus-michels/it-is-an-art-in-itself-to-compose-a-starting-team-finding-the-balance/) [Rinus Michels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rinus-michels/) > [In an all-out nuclear war, more destructive power than in all of World War II would be unleashed every second during the long afternoon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/in-an-all-out-nuclear-war-more-destructive-power-than-in-all-of-world/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [We want our children to live in an America that isn't burdened by debt, that isn't weakened by inequality, that isn't threatened by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-want-our-children-to-live-in-an-america-that-isn-t-burdened-by/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We want our children to live in an America...that isn't threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-want-our-children-to-live-in-an-america-that-isn-t-threatened-by/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## 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 Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our status as a free society and world power is not based on brute strength. When we've taken up arms, it has been for the defense of freedom for ourselves and for other peaceful nations who needed our help. But now, faced with the development of weapons with immense destructive power, we've no choice but to maintain ready defense forces that are second to none. 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