“Certainly the Patriot Act would have never been passed, because it wasn't available to us… It was almost 400 pages long, and became available less than an hour before it was debated on the House floor… The congressmembers were intimidated, "if I do nothing, my people gonna be mad, because they want us to do something". And the people are frightened. When they are frightened, they are much more willing to give us their liberties. But giving up their liberties won't make them safer, that's the real sad part of it.”

—  Ron Paul

Interview by Laura Knoy on NHPR, June 5, 2007 http://info.nhpr.org/node/13016 <br class="br">2000s, 2006-2009

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Certainly the Patriot Act would have never been passed, because it wasn't available to us… It was almost 400 pages long…" by Ron Paul?
Ron Paul photo
Ron Paul148
American politician and physician 1935

Related quotes

J. J. Abrams photo

“It was nothing that I think any one of us took on because it was a gig that was available. It was something that felt like a true passion and something that every single person brought much more than any of us could have expected. … I do honestly feel honored to be part of this group.”

J. J. Abrams (1966) American film and television producer and director

On working on the production of Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The Fresno Bee interview (2015)

Michael Moore photo

“Our young people who go off to war and who join the service, we need to honor them because they're willing to risk their lives to protect us, to defend us, so we can have this way of life. And the agreement that they make with us is that we never send them into harm's way unless it is absolutely necessary. I think most Americans — I just saw the latest poll today — 54% now believe that invading Iraq wasn't the wisest thing to do — it wasn't certainly in self-defense. You weren't threatened; I wasn't being threatened, and that's the only time, because ultimately if it was your child…would you give up your child to secure Fallujah?”

Michael Moore (1954) American filmmaker, author, social critic, and liberal activist

On the television program Late Night with Conan O'Brien (25 June 2004)
2004

Sam Harris photo

“It is rather more noble to help people purely out of concern for their suffering than it is to help them because you think the Creator of the Universe wants you to do it, or will reward you for doing it, or will punish you for not doing it. The problem with this linkage between religion and morality is that it gives people bad reasons to help other human beings when good reasons are available.”

Sam Harris (1967) American author, philosopher and neuroscientist

Sam Harris, Beyond Belief 2006 conference
2000s

“Because people with that much spirit frighten the hell out of me. They make me want to be a better person when I know it's not possible.”

Melina Marchetta book On the Jellicoe Road

Source: On the Jellicoe Road

“I can't help it when people are frightened," says Merricat. "I always want to frighten them more.”

Shirley Jackson book We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Source: We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Marianne Williamson photo

“It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us… There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you… We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.”

Marianne Williamson (1952) American writer

Evo Morales photo

“Some countries of Europe have to free themselves from the US Empire. They are not going to frighten us because we are a people with dignity and sovereignty.”

Evo Morales (1959) Bolivian politician

Statement told to his supporters at airport near La Paz after his flight was hold for 13 hours in Vienna, Austria after it was suspected that Edward Snowden was traveling with him on board. July 3, 2013. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/07/05/2003566380

Sarah Dessen photo

“This is exactly what i wanted, as commitments had never really been my thing. And it wasn't like it was hard, either. The only trick was never giving more than you were willing to lose.”

Sarah Dessen Lock and Key

Source: Lock and Key

“It's frightening to think with modern medicine and all the technique available to them they can't really help you. In the old days, you know, you were better off because nowadays, they are all specialists. Everyone's becoming better and better at less and less. Eventually someone's going to be superb, at nothing.”

Kenneth Williams (1926–1988) English actor and comedian

YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdDtwc9HA7s&amp;feature=g-vrec&amp;context=G2e1b344RVAAAAAAAABg

Sigmund Freud photo

“Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.”

Sigmund Freud book Civilization and Its Discontents

Source: Civilization and Its Discontents

Related topics