Security will produce danger.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
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
Man maintains his balance, poise, and sense of security only as he is moving forward.
—Maxwell Maltz (1899–1975) American Surgeon, Motivational Writer
Security is a kind of death.
—Tennessee Williams (1911–83) American Playwright
In a world in which the total of human knowledge is doubling about every ten years, our security can rest only on our ability to learn
—Nathaniel Branden (1930–2014) American Psychotherapist
Security is the chief enemy of mortals.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Most men love money and security more, and creation and construction less, as they get older.
—John Maynard Keynes (1883–1946) English Economist
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
It seems mutants have something in their lives called gravy. They know truth, but it is buried under thickening and spices of convenience, materialism, insecurity, and fear. They also have something called frosting. It seems to represent how they spend almost all the seconds of their existence in doing superficial, artificial, temporary, pleasant-tasting, nice appearing projects and spend very few actual seconds of their lives developing their eternal beingness.
—Marlo Morgan (1937–98) American Novelist, Author
The only peace, the only security, is in fulfillment.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
When a difficult situation comes into your life, it is possible to tune in to your mind and say, “Okay, choose”. Are you going to make yourself miserable or content? Are you going to visualize scarcity or abundance? Are you going to put yourself down for getting angry with your husband or are you simply going to notice what insecurity you were feeling at the time and discuss it with him? The choice is definitely yours. Pick the one that contributes most to your aliveness and growth.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
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
Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively, unless you can choose a challenge instead of a competence.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
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
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
Kipling sees clearly that men can only be highly civilized while other men, inevitably less civilised, are there to guard and feed them.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
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
Probably the only place where a man can feel really secure is in a maximum security prison, except for the imminent threat of release.
—Germaine Greer (b.1939) Australia Academic, Journalist, Scholar, Writer
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
The man who looks for security, even in the mind, is like a man who would chop off his limbs in order to have artificial ones which will give him no pain or trouble.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Be like the bird that, passing on her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Men are afraid to rock the boat in which they hope to drift safely through life’s currents, when, actually, the boat is stuck on a sandbar. They would be better off to rock the boat and try to shake it loose, or, better still, jump in the water and swim for the shore.
—Thomas Szasz (1920–2012) Hungarian-American Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst
I’m hostile to men, I’m hostile to women, I’m hostile to cats, to poor cockroaches, I’m afraid of horses.
—Norman Mailer (1923–2007) American Novelist Essayist
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
To be on the alert is to live; to be lulled into security is to die.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Protection and security are only valuable if they do not cramp life excessively.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
There is nothing assured to mortals.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
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
Self-defense is Nature’s oldest law.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
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
Without a measureless and perpetual uncertainty, the drama of human life would be destroyed.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Security is the mother of danger and the grandmother of destruction.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Living based in security is living based in fear.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
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
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
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 desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
Security… it’s simply the recognition that changes will take place and the knowledge that you’re willing to deal with whatever happens.
—Harry Browne (1933–2006) American Politician, Investor, Writer
Solvency is entirely a matter of temperament, not of income.
—Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946) American-British Essayist, Bibliophile
Shun security.
—Thales of Miletus (c.624–c.545 BCE) Greek Philosopher, Mathematician
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
There’s no security on this earth, only opportunity.
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American Military Leader
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
Attack is the best form of defense.
—Common Proverb
Safety first has been the motto of the human race for half a million years; but it has never been the motto of leaders.
—Unknown
Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God no matter what the conflict.
—Unknown
Nothing is secure but life, transition, the energizing spirit.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
There can be no security where there is fear.
—Felix Frankfurter (1882–1965) American Judge
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