Janet Frame Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"'For your own good' is a persuasive argument
that will eventually make a man agree to his own destruction."

by:	Janet Frame
Source:	Faces In The Water, 1982
Rating:
Categories:	Freedom, Liberty, Oppression, Security, Tyranny
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Reader comments about this quote:

The quotes sentiment is a political standard. -- Mike, Norwalk
-- David L. Rosenthal
"Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters." Daniel Webster "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive ... those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) British novelist -- Mike, Mount Holly, NC
" 'Necessity' is the plea for every infringement of human liberty; it is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."--William Pitt (1759-1806) British Prime Minister (1783-1801, 1804-06) during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Source: Speech, House of Commons, 18 November 1783 -- Mike, Mount Holly, NC
Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficent ... the greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding. Louis Brandeis, United States Supreme Court Justice in Olmstead vs. United States, 1928 -- Mike, Mount Holly, NC
Rosenthal, why do you give this quote 0 stars while giving the Cromwell quote 5 stars? Your flip-flop demonstrates you are a liberal-socialist, and this thought process (actually lack of) is destroying our country and liberty. -- Joe, Rochester, MI
I gave it the thumb, Joe, because I do not believe it is true. Perhaps in your case it is true. -- David the Socialist-Liberal because Joe says so.
I am now reading "The Gulag Archipelago" for the first time. I had already read some other books on similar situations in other regions, but the reality depicted is still quite disturbing to read and condiser, much more shocking than Joe's inability to imagine that someone who disagrees with this quote must be a socialist. -- David L. Rosenthal
When I wrote "...Joe's inability to imagine that someone who disagrees with this quote must be a socialist" I had actually meant to write "...Joe's inability to imagine that someone who disagrees with this quote might NOT be a socialist." Talk about Freudian slips. Well, Joe, that must mean I really AM a socialist, right? I mean, who would know better than you, Joe? Happy now? -- David L Rosenthal
Sure, I'm happy you agree you're a socialist. LOL So, I SHOULDN'T own a handgun because it will eventually lead to my own destruction? Do you own a gun, Rosenthal? -- Joe, Rochester, MI
I own two guns, Joe. Why? What has that got to do with my disagreement with this quote? -- David L Rosenthal
My example of not owning a gun for my "own good" because it will lead to my "own destruction" deals directly with this quote. You disagree with this quote, yet agree with the Cromwell quote. Both quotes challenge the reason to remove liberty from people. Whether it's "for your own good" or because you "may abuse it," are similar arguments for removing liberty. I don't want liberty removed, not at all, not from anyone. You seem to want liberty removed from others, but not from you. -- Joe, Rochester, MI
(1) I do not agree with the quote, which states that the given argument "will eventually make a man agree to his own destruction." (2) Why don't you list which liberties I wish to deny to others? Can you? -- David L. Rosenthal
I'm betting that David would grant some old white men the right to control a woman's body against her and her doctor's wishes... -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US
Nice try, Reston, but I would not grant them control over her body. I would only protect her fetus from being murdered. Anyway, their color wouldn't make a difference. -- David L Rosenthal
The only problem David has with this quote is that he is one of those on a personal crusade to 'reform' and 'save' us 'for our own good' -- especially anyone on this list that prefers to make their own choices rather than be told what is 'right' and 'moral.' His attempt to do so only serves to defeat the very message he claims to hold dear. The zeal of religious fanatics blinds them to anything that differs from what they have been taught. While it may not destroy them, it certainly binds them and stunts their growth and awareness of the process of life. -- E Archer, NYC
"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help." ---Ronaldus Magnus Reagan -- Ken, Allyn, WA
Although I am in favor of reform, I have serious doubts regarding my capacity to accomplish it. I suggest, comment, try to explain, and even ocassionally set an example, but my powers of persuasion are inadequate. It does not stop me from expressing my opinions. What I can't figure out is why we take each others comments personally, unless our self-esteem is so low that we actually care about the half-baked, misinformed opinions of complete strangers. -- David L Rosenthal
The man/woman who agrees to their own destruction "for their own good" is not responsible for their actions and decisions,in my eyes. -- Me Again

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