--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is aspiring tyrants who say that…" description: "\"It is aspiring tyrants who say that 'civil liberties end when an attack on our safety begins.' Conversely, leaders who wish to preserve the rule of law..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/timothy-d-snyder-12961_civil-liberties_it-is-aspiring-tyrants-who-say-that-civi_31664.jpg" --- # It is aspiring tyrants who say that 'civil liberties end… ![“It is aspiring tyrants who say that 'civil liberties end when an attack on our safety begins.' Conversely, leaders who wish to preserve the rule of law find other ways to speak about real terrorist threats, and certainly do not invent them or deliberately make them worse.” quote by Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/timothy-d-snyder-12961_civil-liberties_it-is-aspiring-tyrants-who-say-that-civi_31664.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/timothy-d-snyder-12961_civil-liberties_it-is-aspiring-tyrants-who-say-that-civi_31664.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/timothy-d-snyder-12961_civil-liberties_it-is-aspiring-tyrants-who-say-that-civi_31664.jpg) > “It is aspiring tyrants who say that 'civil liberties end when an attack on our safety begins.' Conversely, leaders who wish to preserve the rule of law find other ways to speak about real terrorist threats, and certainly do not invent them or deliberately make them worse.” [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) ## 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 authoritarian figures exploit fear to curtail freedoms, while genuine defenders of law address threats without exaggeration. **In simple terms:** Freedom vs. fear‑driven control Key Takeaway Beware of liberty‑trading rhetoric Themes politics civil liberties terrorism authoritarianism rule of law Mood cautious critical defiant Type political philosophical When to use this quote - public policy debates - legislative hearings - media commentary - civil‑rights activism Key Concepts security vs. freedom political manipulation ethical leadership Practical Applications - risk assessment frameworks - public‑education campaigns Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance safety with freedom? - What safeguards prevent abuse of emergency powers? A Different Perspective Some argue that any security measure inherently limits liberty, regardless of intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil liberties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-liberties/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Liberties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberties/) [Rule of law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-of-law/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [We have less civil liberties than we had on 9/ 1 1 in some significant ways. But we are also, I believe, less safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-cole/we-have-less-civil-liberties-than-we-had-on-9-1-1-in-some-significant/) [David D. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-cole/) > [It is easy to make light of insistence on scrupulous regard for the safeguards of civil liberties when invoked on behalf of the unworthy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/it-is-easy-to-make-light-of-insistence-on-scrupulous-regard-for-the/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [I'm just not sure I trust the federal government not to trample on civil liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-carlson/i-m-just-not-sure-i-trust-the-federal-government-not-to-trample-on/) [Tucker Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-carlson/) > [“We’ve built a society that values civil liberties even at the expense of social order.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wheelan/we-ve-built-a-society-that-values-civil-liberties-even-at-the-expense/) [Charles Wheelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wheelan/) > [By international standards, many of the U.K.'s policies for civil society are exemplary. However, there are concerns about constraints on civil liberties - particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/by-international-standards-many-of-the-u-k-s-policies-for-civil/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [The seemingly omnipresent storm clouds hanging over the Constitution often make it hard to find a silver lining. Every day, the front page of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barr/the-seemingly-omnipresent-storm-clouds-hanging-over-the-constitution/) [Bob Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barr/) > [The suppression of civil liberties is too many less a matter for horror than the curtailment of the freedom to profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/the-suppression-of-civil-liberties-is-too-many-less-a-matter-for/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) > [Obama behaves like a centrist who leans tentatively left on certain social programs but boldly right on military force and civil liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-shipler/obama-behaves-like-a-centrist-who-leans-tentatively-left-on-certain/) [David K. Shipler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-shipler/) > [The history of America is to expand civil liberties in a responsible and civil manner. We need to remember that our wonderful Democracy with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgreevey/the-history-of-america-is-to-expand-civil-liberties-in-a-responsible/) [James McGreevey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgreevey/) > [The American Civil Liberties Union, has helped neutralize the Judeo-Christian underpinnings of our legal system by seeking new legal precedents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bright/the-american-civil-liberties-union-has-helped-neutralize-the-judeo/) [Bill Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bright/) > [Since 9/11 the United States has been followed by countries with bad records, such as the former Soviet Union countries, into erosions of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/since-9-11-the-united-states-has-been-followed-by-countries-with-bad/) [Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/) > [It is no response to assert that the Patriot Act has been useful; what you need to explain is how any particular safeguard would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-sanchez/it-is-no-response-to-assert-that-the-patriot-act-has-been-useful-what/) [Julian Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-sanchez/) > [I think when people talk about civil liberties, they sometimes forget that action taken to protect the citizen against physical violence and physical attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-howard/i-think-when-people-talk-about-civil-liberties-they-sometimes-forget/) [John Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-howard/) > [I was on the state board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-hill/i-was-on-the-state-board-of-directors-of-the-american-civil-liberties/) [Betty Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-hill/) > [Using a broad brushstroke, I think Libertarian - most of America are socially accepting and fiscally responsible. I'm in that category. I think, broadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/using-a-broad-brushstroke-i-think-libertarian-most-of-america-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) ## More by Timothy D. Snyder > [Americans can accept that the American Dream will not work out for them; what has been heartbreaking for so many is the sense that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/americans-can-accept-that-the-american-dream-will-not-work-out-for/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Defend an institution. Follow the courts or the media, or a court or a newspaper. Do not speak of 'our institutions' unless you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/defend-an-institution-follow-the-courts-or-the-media-or-a-court-or-a/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Courage does not mean not fearing or not grieving. It does mean recognizing and resisting terror management right away, from the moment of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/courage-does-not-mean-not-fearing-or-not-grieving-it-does-mean/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [In rhetoric and action, the Trump administration has aggrandized 'radical Islamic terror,' thus making what Madison called a 'favorable emergency' more likely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/in-rhetoric-and-action-the-trump-administration-has-aggrandized/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [I thought I was going to grow up and become a diplomat and negotiate nuclear arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/i-thought-i-was-going-to-grow-up-and-become-a-diplomat-and-negotiate/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Mr. Trump is primarily a television personality. As such, he is judged by that standard. This means that a scandal does not call forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/mr-trump-is-primarily-a-television-personality-as-such-he-is-judged/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [We think about democracy, and that's the word that Americans love to use, 'democracy,' and that's how we characterize our system. But if democracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/we-think-about-democracy-and-that-s-the-word-that-americans-love-to/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Most Americans are exceptionalists; we think we live outside of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/most-americans-are-exceptionalists-we-think-we-live-outside-of-history/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Every day you don't do something, it makes it less likely that you will ever do something. So you've got to get started right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/every-day-you-don-t-do-something-it-makes-it-less-likely-that-you/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Anticipatory obedience teaches authorities what is possible and accelerates unfreedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/anticipatory-obedience-teaches-authorities-what-is-possible-and/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/to-abandon-facts-is-to-abandon-freedom-if-nothing-is-true-then-all-is/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [In the descent from a world of factual discourse into a world of emotions and alternative realities, the first step you take, whether you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/in-the-descent-from-a-world-of-factual-discourse-into-a-world-of/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Maybe I am naive, but I don't think talking about the Holocaust with total and complete cynicism is possible for Israeli politicians. It's inevitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/maybe-i-am-naive-but-i-don-t-think-talking-about-the-holocaust-with/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [There's a basic problem with the history of the Holocaust. The people who do it don't know the necessary languages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/there-s-a-basic-problem-with-the-history-of-the-holocaust-the-people/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Trump bankrupted six companies but succeeded on the biggest of stages. He is the champion of failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/trump-bankrupted-six-companies-but-succeeded-on-the-biggest-of-stages/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) [Explore all 52 Timothy D. Snyder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) ## More Civil liberties quotes > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Using a broad brushstroke, I think Libertarian - most of America are socially accepting and fiscally responsible. I'm in that category. I think, broadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/using-a-broad-brushstroke-i-think-libertarian-most-of-america-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [As long as I have any choice in the matter, I shall live only in a country where civil liberty, tolerance and equality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/as-long-as-i-have-any-choice-in-the-matter-i-shall-live-only-in-a/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Since I became chairman, I've tried to turn EFF into civil liberties and responsibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/since-i-became-chairman-i-ve-tried-to-turn-eff-into-civil-liberties/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [For the hundreds of thousands of Californians in gay and lesbian households who are managing their day-to-day lives, this decision affirms the full legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/for-the-hundreds-of-thousands-of-californians-in-gay-and-lesbian/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [“It's almost hard to imagine anything more undemocratic than the view that political officials should not debate American wars in public, but only express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/it-s-almost-hard-to-imagine-anything-more-undemocratic-than-the-view/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Critics have stepped up their attacks on the President for authorizing the National Security Agency to listen to international communications of known al Qaeda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/critics-have-stepped-up-their-attacks-on-the-president-for/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [I was on the state board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-hill/i-was-on-the-state-board-of-directors-of-the-american-civil-liberties/) [Betty Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-hill/) > [George W. Bush and his administration embarked on a full-scale assault on civil liberties, human rights and the rule of law, walking away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/george-w-bush-and-his-administration-embarked-on-a-full-scale-assault/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [I have very real concerns about the civil liberties implications of ultimately requiring every resident to submit themselves for compulsory fingerprinting or some other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-hewitt/i-have-very-real-concerns-about-the-civil-liberties-implications-of/) [Patricia Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-hewitt/) > [I think when people talk about civil liberties, they sometimes forget that action taken to protect the citizen against physical violence and physical attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-howard/i-think-when-people-talk-about-civil-liberties-they-sometimes-forget/) [John Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-howard/) > [“Fugitive Peace (Sonnet 2219) In the opera of war, peace is fugitive - thinking soldiers are no good to state, either you kill without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fugitive-peace-sonnet-2219-in-the-opera-of-war-peace-is-fugitive/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [It is no response to assert that the Patriot Act has been useful; what you need to explain is how any particular safeguard would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-sanchez/it-is-no-response-to-assert-that-the-patriot-act-has-been-useful-what/) [Julian Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-sanchez/) > [Funny, for all surveillance, Osama bin Laden is still free—and we're not. Guess who's winning the "war on terror?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/funny-for-all-surveillance-osama-bin-laden-is-still-free-and-we-re/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [The most important civil liberty... is to stay alive and to be free from violence and death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-howard/the-most-important-civil-liberty-is-to-stay-alive-and-to-be-free-from/) [John Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-howard/) [Browse all 325 Civil liberties quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-liberties/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is aspiring tyrants who say that 'civil liberties end when an attack on our safety begins.' 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