The cynic says, "One man can't do anything". I say, "Only one man can do anything."
John W. GardnerRead
If, in the name of combating terrorism, we so restrict our own freedom, have we not thereby lost part of the very battle we seek to win?
Interpretation
What this quote means
Restricting our freedoms in the fight against terrorism undermines the values we are trying to protect.
In this quote, Jed S. Rakoff cautions against the tendency to compromise personal freedoms in the name of security measures aimed at fighting terrorism. He suggests that by sacrificing our core values of freedom and liberty, we may inadvertently lose the essence of the fight itself, rendering the battle against terrorism a hollow victory if it comes at the cost of the freedoms we hold dear.
Themes
FreedomTerrorismSecurityValuesLibertyRights
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about national security, one might use this quote to argue against excessive surveillance.
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