“Celebrity” Atty. Gerry Spence ( Gerry Spence - Wikipedia ) is in Portland defending Brandon Mayfield, the atty. wrongly arrested by the FBI after the Spanish train terrorist bombings. Mayfield is challenging the Constitutionality of the Patriot act. At a news conference, Spence quoted Franklin thusly;“Those who would trade security for freedom, deserve neither.”
The actual quote is; “Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither”.
Has Spence corrupted the meaning, or is it essentially the same?
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
According to WikiQuote. And, it wasn’t him.
OK, but regardless of the exact wording, or the author, Spence still reversed the order of the quote. Does that change it’s meaning?
Yes. In one case, you start with security, but you’re not free.
In the other, you start with freedom, but you’re not secure.