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"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Benjamin Franklin

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I always disagreed with that quote, and hate it when people roll it out like it's some sort of irreproachable truth.

Doesn't help that it's completely out of context as well, IIRC.

But even in this quote the weasel word "essential" is included in the term "essential Liberty". So what is absolutely essential? Could there be legitimate disagreements on that?

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