Erik Prince Quotes

Liberty comes only after security.

You cannot barter security for freedom, or freedom for security.

Carelessness about our security is dangerous, carelessness about our freedom is also dangerous.

The balance between freedom and security is a delicate one.

Freedom Party International believes that the purpose of government is to protect every individual's fundamental freedoms, not to restrict them.

People must accept that their governments cannot guarantee absolute safety. A measure of insecurity is the price of liberty and democracy. It’s a price worth paying.

I have a personal belief that you never have to give up liberty for security. You can still provide security without sacrificing our Bill of Rights.

Freedom cannot be trifled with. You cannot surrender it for security unless in a state of war, and then you must guard carefully the methods of so doing.

[In the event of war, Americans would] resort for repose and security to institutions which have a tendency to destroy their civil and political rights. To be more safe they, at length, become willing to run the risk of being less free.

There is no inverse relationship between freedom and security. Less of one does not lead to more of the other. People with no rights are not safe from terrorist attack.

I am absolutely convinced, you never have to give up any of your freedoms in order to be secure.

I do think there are certain times we should infringe on your freedom.

Security is an attempt to try to make the universe static so that we feel safe.

Liberty and security are often in direct confrontation and must be balanced in a way that protects us without destroying what is worth protecting.

In the area of national security, I urge the swift passage of an anti-terrorism law that will protect rather than subvert, enhance rather than weaken, the rights and liberties that terrorism precisely threatens with extinction.

Americans want to be protected, but not at the cost of vitiating the values that make us Americans.

A lot of places I go are dangerous, like Tel Aviv or Rio, but that never stops me from going there and putting on a show. I have good security. I don't worry about that.

The problem comes when you say that danger is part of the equation. Then you don't do any more work on safety. That shouldn't happen.

To keep oneself safe does not mean to bury oneself.

We must have constantly present in our minds the difference between independence and liberty. Liberty is a right of doing whatever the laws permit, and if a citizen could do what they forbid he would no longer be possessed of liberty.

Most people want security in this world, not liberty.

No protracted war can fail to endanger the freedom of a democratic country.

The desire for security must be balanced with our regard for liberty.

The absolute rights of individuals may be resolved into the right of personal security, the right of personal liberty, and the right to enjoy and acquire property

The American people do not want to be blown up. Anything that prevents the American people from being blown up is all right with the American people.