--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You and I are told increasingly that we…" description: "\"“You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or a right. There is only an up or down: up to man's age-old dream -- the ultima..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/ronald-reagan-119_dreams_you-and-i-are-told-increasingly-that-we_2705585.jpg" --- # You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose… ![“You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or a right. There is only an up or down: up to man's age-old dream -- the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order -- or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. And regardless of their sincerity, their…” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/ronald-reagan-119_dreams_you-and-i-are-told-increasingly-that-we_2705585.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/ronald-reagan-119_dreams_you-and-i-are-told-increasingly-that-we_2705585.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/ronald-reagan-119_dreams_you-and-i-are-told-increasingly-that-we_2705585.jpg) > ““You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or a right. There is only an up or down: up to man's age-old dream -- the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order -- or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. And regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.”” [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. The quote warns that political choices are often framed as binary left/right, but true freedom lies in striving for individual liberty within law, versus surrendering it for security, which leads to oppression. **In simple terms:** Freedom versus security; choosing liberty over control. Key Takeaway Prioritize liberty, question security trade‑offs. Themes politics freedom individualism authority security Mood cautious reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting decisions - policy debates - personal choices - activism - public discourse Key Concepts liberalism authoritarianism civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - What freedoms are you willing to trade for safety? - How can societies protect liberty while ensuring security? A Different Perspective Security promises can mask loss of freedom and lead to authoritarianism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom For Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-for-security/) [Individual freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-freedom/) [Law and order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-and-order/) [Totalitarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totalitarianism/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [You and I are told increasingly we have to choose between left or right. Well, I'd like to suggest there is no such thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-and-i-are-told-increasingly-we-have-to-choose-between-left-or/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Wonders what would you choose. The one to the left...with nothing right? or the one to the right with nothing left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/wonders-what-would-you-choose-the-one-to-the-left-with-nothing-right/) Unkown > [This is what I choose when it's all left up to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red/this-is-what-i-choose-when-it-s-all-left-up-to-me/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red/) > [Ive'd learned a lot of things,when you choose to left me..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misherie/ive-d-learned-a-lot-of-things-when-you-choose-to-left-me/) [Misherie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misherie/) > [It is not our affluence, or our plumbing, or our clogged freeways that grip the imagination of others. Rather, it is the values upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/it-is-not-our-affluence-or-our-plumbing-or-our-clogged-freeways-that/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [“Democracy in books is, for the people, by the people, democracy on street is rule of the apes in a land of sheep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/democracy-in-books-is-for-the-people-by-the-people-democracy-on/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-ve-gone-astray-from-first-principles-we-ve-lost-sight-of-the-rule/) [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/) ## 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 Dreams quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or a right. There is only an up or down: up to man's age-old dream -- the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order -- or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. 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