> Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

-- A committee which included Benjamin Franklin

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That said, this quote is typically misused, or at best being used wayyy outside its original context. [0]

The Penn family, the local semi-nobility of Pennsylvania, are offering the government a one-time "donation"... in exchange for getting a perpetual exemption from all taxes.

A committee of elected representatives--among them Franklin--are strongly opposed to it, since they believe the democratic legislature's "essential Liberty" to impose taxes for its citizens is way more important than any "temporary Safety" of a one-time lump sum.

[0] https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-06-02-01...