--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We've gone astray from first principles…" description: "\"We've gone astray from first principles. We've lost sight of the rule that individual freedom and ingenuity are at the very core of everything that we'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/ronald-reagan-119_accomplished_we-ve-gone-astray-from-first-principles_483731.jpg" --- # We've gone astray from first principles. We've lost sight… ![“We've gone astray from first principles. We've lost sight of the rule that individual freedom and ingenuity are at the very core of everything that we've accomplished. Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/ronald-reagan-119_accomplished_we-ve-gone-astray-from-first-principles_483731.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/ronald-reagan-119_accomplished_we-ve-gone-astray-from-first-principles_483731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/ronald-reagan-119_accomplished_we-ve-gone-astray-from-first-principles_483731.jpg) > “We've gone astray from first principles. We've lost sight of the rule that individual freedom and ingenuity are at the very core of everything that we've accomplished. Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” [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. Government should protect citizens, not control them; individual liberty drives innovation. **In simple terms:** Freedom fuels progress; government protects, not dictates. Key Takeaway Limit government intrusion to preserve freedom. Themes freedom government individualism Mood cautious hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - business regulation - personal decision making - community organizing Key Concepts political theory civil liberty Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure safety without compromising freedom? - What role should government play in personal innovation? A Different Perspective Balancing safety and liberty can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished/) [Astray Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astray-principles-4153740/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [First Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-principles/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-duty-251751/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-freedom/) [Ingenuity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ingenuity/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Protect People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-people/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) ## Related quotes > [Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/government-s-first-duty-is-to-protect-the-people-not-run-their-lives/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-and-i-are-told-we-must-choose-between-a-left-or-right-but-i/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-basis-of-conservatism-is-a-desire-for-less-government/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [By 1980, we knew it was time to renew our faith, to strive with all our strength toward the ultimate in individual freedom consistent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/by-1980-we-knew-it-was-time-to-renew-our-faith-to-strive-with-all-our/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer, just as liberalism is a misnomer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-believe-the-very-heart-and-soul-of-conservatism-is-libertarianism-i/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [f you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/f-you-analyze-it-i-believe-the-very-heart-and-soul-of-conservatism-is/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [When we speak of peace, we should not mean just the absence of war. True peace rests on the pillars of individual freedom, human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/when-we-speak-of-peace-we-should-not-mean-just-the-absence-of-war/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I believe the highest aspiration of man should be individual freedom and the development of the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-believe-the-highest-aspiration-of-man-should-be-individual-freedom/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-very-heart-and-soul-of-conservatism-is-libertarianism/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or a right. There is only an up or down:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-and-i-are-told-increasingly-that-we-have-to-choose-between-a-left/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Isn't our choice really not one of left or right, but of up or down? Down through the welfare state to statism, to more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/isn-t-our-choice-really-not-one-of-left-or-right-but-of-up-or-down/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The government's duty is to support basic sciences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasuku-honjo/the-government-s-duty-is-to-support-basic-sciences/) [Tasuku Honjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasuku-honjo/) > [Every good government's duty is to do more for the regions that are underdeveloped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-shah/every-good-government-s-duty-is-to-do-more-for-the-regions-that-are/) [Amit Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-shah/) > [A good government is one with a duty to help everyone, to maximise his or her potential: Indigenous people, people with disabilities, and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-mundine/a-good-government-is-one-with-a-duty-to-help-everyone-to-maximise-his/) [Warren Mundine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-mundine/) > [Government's first duty and highest obligation is public safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/government-s-first-duty-and-highest-obligation-is-public-safety/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) ## 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 Accomplished quotes > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [... even the most sublimely accomplished non-stop talker can't consistently please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/even-the-most-sublimely-accomplished-non-stop-talker-can-t/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I'm proud of what I've accomplished and that is empowering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-chachki/i-m-proud-of-what-i-ve-accomplished-and-that-is-empowering/) [Violet Chachki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-chachki/) > [We do not know today whether we are busy or idle. In times when we thought ourselves indolent, we have afterwards discovered that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-do-not-know-today-whether-we-are-busy-or-idle-in-times-when-we/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I don't know Beyoncé, but I have the impression that she's sincere, that she really is a feminist and wanted to put the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-don-t-know-beyonc-but-i-have-the-impression-that-she-s-sincere-that/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labour is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-gain-in-self-confidence-of-having-accomplished-a-tiresome-labour/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [With Epcot Center, the Disney corporation has accomplished something I didn't think possible in today's world. They have created a land of make-believe that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-accomplished-something-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act could harm bear conservation efforts by eliminating revenues from the carefully-regulated sport hunting of polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ridenour/listing-the-polar-bear-under-the-endangered-species-act-could-harm/) [Amy Ridenour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ridenour/) > [“Great things can be accomplished, when it doesnt matter who gets the credit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/great-things-can-be-accomplished-when-it-doesnt-matter-who-gets-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If I could inspire you for even a moment to be yourself and love yourself, and not let what anyone has to say hinder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-neal-hartry/if-i-could-inspire-you-for-even-a-moment-to-be-yourself-and-love/) [Joshua Neal Hartry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-neal-hartry/) [Browse all 1,379 Accomplished quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We've gone astray from first principles. 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