Government has the role of suiting people for freedom. People aren't made for freedom spontaneously. There's sort of a 19-year race between when people are born and when they become adults. And government has a role in making them, at the end of 19 years, suited to be upright, trustworthy repositories of popular sovereignty.

Summary

This quote suggests that the government plays a crucial role in preparing individuals to exercise their freedom responsibly. According to the quote, people are not naturally inclined or prepared to embrace freedom on their own. Instead, there is a period of approximately 19 years, between birth and adulthood, during which the government has the responsibility to educate, guide, and shape individuals into becoming capable and responsible guardians of popular sovereignty. In essence, the quote emphasizes the role of the government in cultivating the necessary qualities and values that enable individuals to exercise their freedom effectively in a democratic society.

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