Liberty and security

A quote from my favorite cynic, the Bard from Baltimore.

The thirst for liberty does not seem to be natural to man. Most people want security in this world, not liberty. Liberty puts them on their own, and so exposes them to the natural consequences of their congenital stupidity and incompetence. Historically, it has always been forced upon the masses from above. Whenever they have formulated demands of their own, it has been demands for privileges, not for liberty.

H. L. Mencken, Minority Report, #170

Here is a selection of his writings online.