Ability Quote by William Rehnquist
“In any civilized society the most important task is achieving a proper balance between freedom and order. In wartime, reason and history both suggest that this balance shifts in favor... of the government's ability to deal with conditions that threaten the national well-being.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Civil Liberties, William Rehnquist, 1995
Societies must balance liberty and order; in war, security concerns shift the balance toward governmental authority to protect national welfare.
In simple terms: Freedom and order must be balanced; war tips scale toward security.
Key Takeaway
Maintain vigilance to protect liberty in crises.
Themes
freedom
order
security
war
Mood
cautious
thoughtful
Type
political
legal
When to use this quote
- policy making
- emergency legislation
- public debate
- legal education
Key Concepts
political theory
civil rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies preserve liberty during emergencies?
- What safeguards prevent abuse of power?
A Different Perspective
Security measures can erode freedoms if unchecked.
![“[I]f we assume a liberty interest but nevertheless say that, even assuming a liberty interest, a state can prohibit it entirely, that would be rather a conundrum.” quote by William Rehnquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/16f/william-rehnquist-28058_assuming_i-f-we-assume-a-liberty-interest-but-nev_1642233.jpg)
