But we know that freedom cannot be served by the devices of the tyrant. As it is an ancient truth that freedom cannot be legislated into existence, so it is no less obvious that freedom cannot be censored into existence. And any who act as if freedoms defenses are to be found in suppression and suspicion and fear confess a doctrine that is alien to America.
Interpretation
Freedom cannot be achieved through oppression or fear; it must be genuinely upheld and protected.
In this quote, Dwight D. Eisenhower emphasizes that true freedom cannot be maintained through tyrannical methods or fear tactics. He asserts that legislation and censorship cannot create genuine freedom; instead, a respectful and open society is required to protect individual liberties. Eisenhower warns against those who believe that suppressing freedoms and fostering suspicion is the way to maintain security, indicating that such beliefs are contrary to the principles of America.
In practice
During a speech on civil rights, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of protecting freedoms.
If a man's associates find him guilty of being phony, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must square with each other. The first great need, therefore, is integrity and high purpose.
The libraries of America are and must ever remain the home of free and inquiring minds. To them, our citizens-of all ages and races, of all creeds and persuasions-must be able to turn with clear confidence that there they can freely seek the whole truth, unvarnished by fashion and uncompromised by expediency.
You don't lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership.
When pressure mounts and strain increases everyone begins to show the weaknesses in his makeup. It is up to the Commander to conceal his: above all to conceal doubt, fear, and distrust.
Some years ago I became president of Columbia University and learned within 24 hours to be ready to speak at the drop of a hat, and I learned something more, the trustees were expected to be ready to speak at the passing of the hat.
I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.
Independence can be trusted nowhere but with the people in mass. They are inherently independent of all but moral law.
All I maintain is that on this earth there are pestilences and there are victims, and it's up to us, so far as possible, not to join forces with the pestilences. That may sound simple to the point of childishness; I can't judge if it's simple, but I know it's true.
Something my dad would say was that it's not important to win, but it's important to know how not to be defeated. The art of invincibility is the most important attribute in Jiu-Jitsu.
I am this bundle of what has been, and what has been accomplished.
And when there are enough outsiders together in one place, a mystic osmosis takes place and you're inside.
Definitely, there is a sense in my writing that people now know me in a personal way. And to an extent, that's true because I write about very personal things, and I use the personal often to contextualize some of these sociopolitical issues that we're dealing with. And to an extent, they're right. They know something about me.
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