--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If government can give you rights…" description: "\"If government can give you rights, government can take them away from you.\" — Roy Moore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/roy-moore-12528_away_if-government-can-give-you-rights-govern_323302.jpg" --- # If government can give you rights, government can take… ![“If government can give you rights, government can take them away from you.” quote by Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/roy-moore-12528_away_if-government-can-give-you-rights-govern_323302.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/roy-moore-12528_away_if-government-can-give-you-rights-govern_323302.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/roy-moore-12528_away_if-government-can-give-you-rights-govern_323302.jpg) > “If government can give you rights, government can take them away from you.” [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Government-granted rights can also be revoked by the government. **In simple terms:** Rights are vulnerable to political change. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant about protecting freedoms. Themes politics rights government power Mood cautionary empowering Type political educational When to use this quote - legislation - activism - public policy - personal advocacy Key Concepts civil liberties authoritarian risk Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent rights loss? - How can citizens hold governments accountable? A Different Perspective Rights can also be protected by law. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [Indeed, in a free government almost all other rights would become worthless if the government possessed power over the private fortune of every citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall/indeed-in-a-free-government-almost-all-other-rights-would-become/) [John Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall/) > [The government was set to protect man from criminals-and the constitution was written to protect man from the government. The Bill of Rights was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-government-was-set-to-protect-man-from-criminals-and-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [GOVERNMENT has no rights; it is a delegation from several individuals for the purpose of securing their own. It is therefore just, only so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/government-has-no-rights-it-is-a-delegation-from-several-individuals/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“My rights are not derived from any government. My rights are not denied by any majority. My rights are because I exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/my-rights-are-not-derived-from-any-government-my-rights-are-not/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The source of the government's authority is “the consent of the governed.” This means that the government is not the ruler, but the servant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-source-of-the-government-s-authority-is-the-consent-of-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [ In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. ...under the republican forms \[of government\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/in-a-free-government-the-security-for-civil-rights-must-be-the-same-3/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Remain close to government and away from politics. It means deal more with the authorities. And less with individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wang-jianlin/remain-close-to-government-and-away-from-politics-it-means-deal-more/) [Wang Jianlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wang-jianlin/) > [This is how psychiatry has functioned-as a kind of property arm of the government, who can put you away if your husband doesn't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/this-is-how-psychiatry-has-functioned-as-a-kind-of-property-arm-of/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [The clinical definition of "fascism" is when private concentrated economic power takes government away from the people, turns government into a guarantor, a subsidizer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/the-clinical-definition-of-fascism-is-when-private-concentrated/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [For government to give, it must first take away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/for-government-to-give-it-must-first-take-away/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Take the government away. Let the parents take care of their kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bickford/take-the-government-away-let-the-parents-take-care-of-their-kids/) Bruce Bickford > [If you're campaigning against ObamaCare, but you're also having to defend yourself for closing the government, that seems to take away the asset from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/if-you-re-campaigning-against-obamacare-but-you-re-also-having-to/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The government could take away all the drugs in the world and people would spin around on their lawns until they fell down and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/the-government-could-take-away-all-the-drugs-in-the-world-and-people/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [Madison understood that if you want to protect rights from government abuse, you would be wise not to give government the power in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-pilon/madison-understood-that-if-you-want-to-protect-rights-from-government/) Roger Pilon > [Protesters can't violate First Amendment rights. Only the government can do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/protesters-can-t-violate-first-amendment-rights-only-the-government/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) ## More by Roy Moore > [Homosexual behavior is a ground for divorce, an act of sexual misconduct punishable as a crime in Alabama, a crime against nature, an inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/homosexual-behavior-is-a-ground-for-divorce-an-act-of-sexual/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [I was asked three times directly in the hearing before the board of the judiciary whether or not I would continue to acknowledge God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/i-was-asked-three-times-directly-in-the-hearing-before-the-board-of/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [And government's only role is to secure our rights for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/and-government-s-only-role-is-to-secure-our-rights-for-us/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [America the Beautiful, or so you used to be, Land of the Pilgrims' pride, I'm glad they're not here to see, Babies piled in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/america-the-beautiful-or-so-you-used-to-be-land-of-the-pilgrims-pride/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [There is no such thing as evolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/there-is-no-such-thing-as-evolution/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [They might object to some of my opinions, but they don't object to my behavior as a judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/they-might-object-to-some-of-my-opinions-but-they-don-t-object-to-my/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [It would bother me if a judge told me how I had to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/it-would-bother-me-if-a-judge-told-me-how-i-had-to-believe/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [I must acknowledge God. It says so in the Constitution of Alabama. It says so in the First Amendment of the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/i-must-acknowledge-god-it-says-so-in-the-constitution-of-alabama-it/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [Anytime you deny the acknowledgement of God you are undermining the entire basis for which our country exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/anytime-you-deny-the-acknowledgement-of-god-you-are-undermining-the/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [That's not the federal law. What you're confusing is law with the opinion of a justice, what one lone federal judge says is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/that-s-not-the-federal-law-what-you-re-confusing-is-law-with-the/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [Separation of church and state was never meant to separate God and government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/separation-of-church-and-state-was-never-meant-to-separate-god-and/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [False religions like Islam who teach that you must worship this way, are completely opposite with what our First Amendment stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/false-religions-like-islam-who-teach-that-you-must-worship-this-way/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [America promotes a lot of bad things, you know. Same-sex marriage, for example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/america-promotes-a-lot-of-bad-things-you-know-same-sex-marriage-for/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [The forefathers, including James Madison, felt very strongly that the duties that we owe to God were outside of government's prerogative, that government had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/the-forefathers-including-james-madison-felt-very-strongly-that-the/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [If God gives you rights, no man and no government can take them away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/if-god-gives-you-rights-no-man-and-no-government-can-take-them-away/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) [Explore all 54 Roy Moore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) ## More Away quotes > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/) [Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/) > [Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [You just say the word, and I'll make the rest of the world go away. I'll take you someplace safe, where no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/you-just-say-the-word-and-i-ll-make-the-rest-of-the-world-go-away-i/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [Who wants a stylus. You have to get em and put em away, and you lose em. Yuck. Nobody wants a stylus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/who-wants-a-stylus-you-have-to-get-em-and-put-em-away-and-you-lose-em/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Beauty fades away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/beauty-fades-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't kind of take away, you either do or you don't. If you kind of take away something you're a failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-guare/you-can-t-kind-of-take-away-you-either-do-or-you-don-t-if-you-kind-of/) [John Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-guare/) > [We never think that our mothers will die. It was like suddenly an abyss opened at my feet - I was standing on nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/we-never-think-that-our-mothers-will-die-it-was-like-suddenly-an/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [If you take away the predators in the prairies and the national parks, you suddenly have an explosion of elk, and then you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-benchley/if-you-take-away-the-predators-in-the-prairies-and-the-national-parks/) [Peter Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-benchley/) > [“Please don't go away. You--you matter. To me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/please-don-t-go-away-you-you-matter-to-me/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/our-world-is-drowning-in-a-sea-of-self-centeredness-you-can-make/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [“Why is it," she asked, snuggling closer, "that I so often imagine myself running away and running free?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/why-is-it-she-asked-snuggling-closer-that-i-so-often-imagine-myself/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. 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