--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I stand for a strong state that…" description: "\"I stand for a strong state that safeguards freedom. I don't need to show muscle for that.\" — Thomas de Maiziere" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/thomas-de-maiziere-27594_freedom_i-stand-for-a-strong-state-that-safeguar_1020248.jpg" --- # I stand for a strong state that safeguards freedom. I… ![“I stand for a strong state that safeguards freedom. I don't need to show muscle for that.” quote by Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/thomas-de-maiziere-27594_freedom_i-stand-for-a-strong-state-that-safeguar_1020248.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/thomas-de-maiziere-27594_freedom_i-stand-for-a-strong-state-that-safeguar_1020248.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/thomas-de-maiziere-27594_freedom_i-stand-for-a-strong-state-that-safeguar_1020248.jpg) > “I stand for a strong state that safeguards freedom. I don't need to show muscle for that.” [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker believes a strong state can protect freedom without displaying force, emphasizing governance over intimidation. **In simple terms:** Freedom protected by robust institutions, not by overt displays of power. Key Takeaway Support strong institutions to safeguard liberty. Themes politics freedom state power governance non‑violence Mood thoughtful optimistic serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - policy drafting - academic debate - public advocacy Key Concepts political theory constitutional law civil rights Questions to Reflect On - How can a state demonstrate strength without coercion? - What mechanisms ensure accountability in a non‑muscular approach? A Different Perspective May overlook the need for deterrence in certain threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ## Related quotes > [It is the American air protection, which safeguards the freedom enjoyed by the Kurdish region. It guarantees the cultural, health and civilizational progress made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/it-is-the-american-air-protection-which-safeguards-the-freedom/) [Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/) > [the independence of the artist is one of the great safeguards of the freedom of the human spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-v-wedgwood/the-independence-of-the-artist-is-one-of-the-great-safeguards-of-the/) [C. V. Wedgwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-v-wedgwood/) > [At last, Russia has returned to the world arena as a strong state - a country that others heed and that can stand up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/at-last-russia-has-returned-to-the-world-arena-as-a-strong-state-a/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [America is not really a strong enough state for us to regard it as an enemy of Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramzan-kadyrov/america-is-not-really-a-strong-enough-state-for-us-to-regard-it-as-an/) [Ramzan Kadyrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramzan-kadyrov/) > [A strong State Department to me means a corps of career officials who believe that their job is to advocate America's interests and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/a-strong-state-department-to-me-means-a-corps-of-career-officials-who/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [Healthy Odisha - Happy Odisha. Let us continue our endeavour to build a prosperous and strong state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-patnaik/healthy-odisha-happy-odisha-let-us-continue-our-endeavour-to-build-a/) [Naveen Patnaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-patnaik/) > [“Oh, diplomacy," said M.D., in his element, "it mops up war's spillages; legitimizes its outcomes; gives the strong state the means to impose its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/oh-diplomacy-said-m-d-in-his-element-it-mops-up-war-s-spillages/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Russia needs a strong state power and must have it. But I am not calling for totalitarianism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/russia-needs-a-strong-state-power-and-must-have-it-but-i-am-not/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [But if you should take the bond of goodwill out of the universe no house or city could stand, nor would even the tillage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/but-if-you-should-take-the-bond-of-goodwill-out-of-the-universe-no/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [We choose forward. We choose inclusion. We choose growing together. We choose American economic might and muscle, standing strong on the bedrock of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/we-choose-forward-we-choose-inclusion-we-choose-growing-together-we/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [“When I stand strong in you I can look beyond the clouds With your words The sun will rise again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-nichole/when-i-stand-strong-in-you-i-can-look-beyond-the-clouds-with-your/) [April Nichole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-nichole/) > [I absolutely trust Hillary Clinton to stand strong on trade agreements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrod-brown/i-absolutely-trust-hillary-clinton-to-stand-strong-on-trade-agreements/) [Sherrod Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrod-brown/) > [A lot of guys have muscles. A lot of strong men in this world. I think it's important to show that even under all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/a-lot-of-guys-have-muscles-a-lot-of-strong-men-in-this-world-i-think/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [All things human hang by a slender thread; and that which seemed to stand strong suddenly falls and sinks in ruins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/all-things-human-hang-by-a-slender-thread-and-that-which-seemed-to/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Nobody looks good in their darkest hour. But it's those hours that make us what we are. We stand strong, or we cower. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/nobody-looks-good-in-their-darkest-hour-but-it-s-those-hours-that/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) ## More by Thomas de Maiziere > [Confidentiality and transparency are not mutually exclusive, but rather two sides of the same coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/confidentiality-and-transparency-are-not-mutually-exclusive-but/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [WikiLeaks is irritating and annoying for Germany, but not a threat. From an international perspective, I see their actions as totally irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/wikileaks-is-irritating-and-annoying-for-germany-but-not-a-threat/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [There is a connection between the issue of refugees and the battle against the so-called Islamic State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/there-is-a-connection-between-the-issue-of-refugees-and-the-battle/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [Everyone learns in a crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/everyone-learns-in-a-crisis/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [Each government minister views the circumstances of each issue differently. An interior minister has a different view of visa liberalization than does a foreign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/each-government-minister-views-the-circumstances-of-each-issue/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [Political leaders have to withstand headwinds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/political-leaders-have-to-withstand-headwinds/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [I don't want anybody to accuse me of taking advantage of the situation to pursue a particular political agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/i-don-t-want-anybody-to-accuse-me-of-taking-advantage-of-the/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [I am sympathetic to the fact that Turkey is doing everything it can to prevent the civil war in Syria from spilling over into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/i-am-sympathetic-to-the-fact-that-turkey-is-doing-everything-it-can/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [I am a big advocate of what is known as net neutrality. This means that providers are compelled to transmit content without political or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/i-am-a-big-advocate-of-what-is-known-as-net-neutrality-this-means/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [Showing strength is different than showing muscle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/showing-strength-is-different-than-showing-muscle/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [I see no constitutional problems with the identification, staving off and defusing of outside threats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/i-see-no-constitutional-problems-with-the-identification-staving-off/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [I am a politician, but I am also a Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/i-am-a-politician-but-i-am-also-a-christian/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [You cannot protect something without intervening on some level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/you-cannot-protect-something-without-intervening-on-some-level/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [The Internet is a modern infrastructure that plays a key role in the future of the state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/the-internet-is-a-modern-infrastructure-that-plays-a-key-role-in-the/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [One should never send soldiers on a mission based on just good will and good intent. Unfortunately, that can mean one has to stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/one-should-never-send-soldiers-on-a-mission-based-on-just-good-will/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) [Explore all 20 Thomas de Maiziere quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I stand for a strong state that safeguards freedom. 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