A people cannot long retain their freedom, whose government is incapable of protecting them.
Interpretation
A society's freedom is threatened if its government cannot ensure their safety.
Oliver Ellsworth's quote emphasizes the critical relationship between a government's ability to protect its citizens and the preservation of freedom. It suggests that a government failure in its duty to safeguard the populace leads to the erosion of liberty, highlighting the responsibility of governance in maintaining a secure and free society.
In practice
During a political rally discussing civil rights and government accountability.
A government capable of controlling the whole, and bringing its force to a point, is one of the prerequisites for national liberty. We combine in society, with an expectation to have our persons and properties defended against unreasonable exactions either at home or abroad.
Liberty is a word which, according as it is used, comprehends the most good and the most evil of any in the world. Justly understood it is sacred next to those which we appropriate in divine adoration; but in the mouths of some it means anything, which enervate a necessary government; excite a jealousy of the rulers who are our own choice, and keep society in confusion for want of a power sufficiently concentered to promote good.
Liberty is a word which, according as it is used, comprehends the most good and the most evil of any in the world.
I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat.
The short memories of the American voters is what keeps our politicians in office.
We say there are people who have worked in campaigns who say that they have lost some - and we call those folks operatives, managers, strategists, consultants; and then there are people who work in campaigns and say that they have never lost, and we call them liars.
Demand the ballot as the undeniable right of every man who is called to the poll, and take special care that the old constitutional rule and principle, by which majorities alone shall decide in Parliamentary elections, shall not be violated.
The political machine triumphs because it is a united minority acting against a divided majority.
If we can deter the Soviet Union, if we can deter North Korea, why on earth can't we deter Iran?
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