I don’t want expensive gifts; I don’t want to be bought. I have everything I want. I just want someone to be there for me, to make me feel safe and secure.
—Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–97) English Royal, Humanitarian, Peace Activist
In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression—everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way—everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want—which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear—which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression gainst any neighbor—anywhere in the world.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
There is only one security, and when you’ve lost that security, you’ve lost everything you’ve got. And that is the security of confidence in yourself; to be, to create, to make any position you want to make for yourself. And when you lose that confidence, you’ve lost the only security you can have. … Self-confidence is self-determinism. One’s belief in one’s ability to determine his own course. As long as one has that, he’s got the universe in his pocket. And when he hasn’t got that, not all the pearls in China nor all the grain and corn in Iowa can give him security, because that’s the only security there is.
—L. Ron Hubbard (1911–86) American Scientologist Religious Leader, Novelist, Author
Is there any sex-distinction in the Atman (Self)? Out with the differentiation between man and woman—all is Atman! Give up the identification with the body, and stand up!
—Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) Indian Hindu Monk, Mystic
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
The only peace, the only security, is in fulfillment.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Yet one thing secures us what ever betide, the scriptures assures us the Lord will provide.
—Isaac Newton (1643–1727) English Physicist, Mathematician, Astronomer, Theologian
The ultimate in futility is owning important jewelry. Insurers often insist on the wearing of paste replicas because necks with real rocks around ’em risk wringing.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Harsh necessity, and the newness of my kingdom, force me to do such things and to guard my frontiers everywhere.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
They have discovered that security is not having things; it’s handling things. Thus, when you can answer all your “what if”s with “I can handle it,” you can approach all things with a no-lose guarantee, and the fear disappears.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
Security is the mother of danger and the grandmother of destruction.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
I’m in love with the potential of miracles. For me, the safest place is out on a limb.
—Shirley MacLaine (b.1934) American Actor, Dancer, Author, Activist
The fishing is best where the fewest go, and the collective insecurity of the world makes it easy for people to hit home runs while everyone else is aiming for base hits. There is just less competition for bigger goals.
—Tim Ferriss (b.1977) American Self-help Author
The task we must set for ourselves is not to feel secure, but to be able to tolerate insecurity.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
We will never have real safety and security for the wage earners unless we provide for safety and security for the wage payers and the wage savers, investors, and then, by all means, protection for both against reckless wasters and wage spenders.
—William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) American Presbyterian Minister
What can we take on trust
in this uncertain life? Happiness, greatness,
pride – nothing is secure, nothing keeps.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
There is not much collective security in a flock of sheep on the way to the butcher.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
The search for static security—in the law and elsewhere—is misguided. The fact is security can only be achieved through constant change, adapting old ideas that have outlived their usefulness to current facts.
—William O. Douglas (1898–1980) American Judge
There are one hundred men seeking security to one able man who is willing to risk his fortune.
—J. Paul Getty (1892–1976) American Business Person, Art Collector, Philanthropist
Security is a kind of death.
—Tennessee Williams (1911–83) American Playwright
Prudence is an attitude that keeps life safe, but does not often make it happy.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Only those means of security are good, are certain, are lasting, that depend on yourself and your own vigor.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.
—John Muir (1838–1914) Scottish-born American Naturalist
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Whoever created the name life insurance had to be the sales genius of all time.
—Robert Half
Most people never feel secure because they are always worried that they will lose their job, lose the money they already have, lose their spouse, lose their health, and so on. The only true security in life comes from knowing that every single day you are improving yourself in some way, that you are increasing the caliber of who you are and that you are valuable to your company, your friends, and your family.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
These people are often authoritarian and rigid in their views, exerting power over others in an effort to keep others from having power over them. Persecutors may act grandiose and self-righteous to mask their own insecurity.
—David Emerald
We spend our time searching for security and hate it when we get it.
—John Steinbeck (1902–68) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Journalist
If you want total security, go to prison. There you’re fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking … is freedom.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
There can be no security where there is fear.
—Felix Frankfurter (1882–1965) American Judge
When you know that you’re capable of dealing with whatever comes, you have the only security the world has to offer.
—Harry Browne (1933–2006) American Politician, Investor, Writer
Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
There is no such thing as security. There never has been.
—Germaine Greer (b.1939) Australia Academic, Journalist, Scholar, Writer
Living based in security is living based in fear.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Protection and security are only valuable if they do not cramp life excessively.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
Self-defense is Nature’s eldest law.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite capacity to not know what can’t be done. If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
Security isn’t securities. It’s knowing that someone cares whether you are or cease to be.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Security depends not so much upon how much you have, as upon how much you can do without.
—Joseph Wood Krutch (1893–1970) American Writer, Critic, Naturalist
God Himself is not secure, having given man dominion over His works.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Security is when everything is settled. When nothing can happen to you. Security is the denial of life.
—Germaine Greer (b.1939) Australia Academic, Journalist, Scholar, Writer
No one can build his security upon the nobleness of another person.
—Willa Cather (1873–1947) American Novelist, Writer
Whatever has overstepped its due bounds is always in a state of instability.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
The more you seek security, the less of it you have. But the more you seek opportunity, the more likely it is that you will achieve the security that you desire.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
There’s no telling what might have happened to our defense budget if Saddam Hussein hadn’t invaded Kuwait that August and set everyone gearing up for World War II. Can we count on Saddam Hussein to come along every year and resolve our defense-policy debates? Given the history of the Middle East, it’s possible.
—P. J. O’Rourke (b.1947) American Journalist, Political Satirist
If you want security, go to prison.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
Anxiety is the mark of spiritual insecurity.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God no matter what the conflict.
—Unknown
Attack is the best form of defense.
—Common Proverb
It is when we all play safe that we create a world of utmost insecurity.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat