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Freedom is neither guaranteed nor automatic; not even in the United States. Left unguarded, it can slip away like a thief in the night.
Joy Reid
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Freedom must be actively protected; it is not a given.

This quote by Joy Reid emphasizes that freedom is not an inherent condition or a guaranteed right, even in nations that value it highly, like the United States. It warns that if not actively defended and maintained, freedom can disappear unexpectedly and without warning, much like a thief stealing in the shadows.

Themes

FreedomVigilanceRightsProtectionLiberty

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion on civil rights, one might say this quote to emphasize the importance of protecting freedoms.

More from Joy Reid

To be white in America is to have the confidence to say, without a second thought: this space, this neighborhood, this city, this county, this country is mine.
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To be white in America is to assume, with total self-confidence and little afterthought, the personal ownership of public spaces.
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There is a twinge of abandonment that comes with being a member of the African Diaspora. But 'Black Panther' fearlessly introduces and then complicates this and other deeply held albeit rarely expressed emotions; that indeed is what makes this film so profoundly innovative.
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For millions of Americans who happen to be black or brown, that core bond of trust with the government that governs closest to you, is too often broken.
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Quote by Joy Reid | QuoteProject