May the sun never set on American baseball.
Harry S. TrumanRead
Those who want the Government to regulate matters of the mind and spirit are like men who are so afraid of being murdered that they commit suicide to avoid assassination.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that seeking control over thoughts and beliefs can lead to self-destruction rather than safety.
Harry S. Truman's quote illustrates the irony of those who desire external control over their mental and spiritual lives. By comparing such individuals to those who might take drastic measures to avoid a perceived threat, Truman emphasizes the dangers of allowing fear to dictate one’s freedom of thought and existence, suggesting that such regulation can ultimately lead to harm rather than protection.
Themes
GovernmentRegulationFreedomThoughtSelf-DestructionFear
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on the importance of personal freedom, one could reference this quote to highlight the dangers of overregulation.
More from Harry S. Truman
All quotes →Having found the bomb we have used it. We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, against those who have abandoned all pretense of obeying international laws of warfare. We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans.
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Herbert Hoover once ran on the slogan, 'Two cars in every garage'. Apparently, the Republican candidate this year is running on the slogan, 'Two families in every garage'.
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The only things worth learning are the things you learn after you know it all.
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I never would have agreed to the formulation of the Central Intelligence Agency back in forty-seven, if I had known it would become the American Gestapo.
Harry S. TrumanRead
I would rather have peace in the world than be President.
Harry S. TrumanRead
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