--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A standing army is a standing menace to…" description: "\"A standing army is a standing menace to liberty.\" — Voltairine de Cleyre" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/voltairine-de-cleyre-13597_anti-war_a-standing-army-is-a-standing-menace-to_346051.jpg" --- # A standing army is a standing menace to liberty. ![“A standing army is a standing menace to liberty.” quote by Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/voltairine-de-cleyre-13597_anti-war_a-standing-army-is-a-standing-menace-to_346051.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/voltairine-de-cleyre-13597_anti-war_a-standing-army-is-a-standing-menace-to_346051.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/voltairine-de-cleyre-13597_anti-war_a-standing-army-is-a-standing-menace-to_346051.jpg) > “A standing army is a standing menace to liberty.” [Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltairine-de-cleyre/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A permanent army threatens freedom, as it can become a tool of oppression against citizens. **In simple terms:** Standing armies endanger liberty. Key Takeaway Advocate for civilian control of military forces. Themes freedom military power citizen rights Mood cautious determined Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debate - historical analysis - activist organizing Key Concepts authoritarianism civil-military relations Questions to Reflect On - Is it possible to balance security and liberty? - What alternatives exist to a permanent army? A Different Perspective Some argue a standing army is necessary for defense. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-war/) [Antiwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antiwar/) [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Army Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army-standing-3205241/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Menace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/menace/) [Menace Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/menace-liberty-3205240/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Standing Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-army-603271/) [Standing Menace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-menace-3205239/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Patriotism is a menace to liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/patriotism-is-a-menace-to-liberty/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The Constitutional Convention debated whether America should even have a standing army. ... They worried that a powerful military could rival civilian government for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-constitutional-convention-debated-whether-america-should-even/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [A standing army is one of the greatest mischief that can possibly happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/a-standing-army-is-one-of-the-greatest-mischief-that-can-possibly/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [I am not one of those who believe that a great standing army is the means of maintaining peace, because if you build up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-am-not-one-of-those-who-believe-that-a-great-standing-army-is-the/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army. 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