You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man's age-old dream-the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. Regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would sacrifice freedom for security have embarked on this downward path.

Summary

This quote by Ronald Reagan highlights the belief that political ideologies of left or right are ultimately insignificant in comparison to the broader concept of individual freedom versus totalitarianism. Reagan argues that the real choice lies between moving upwards, towards a society that prioritizes individual freedom within a framework of order, or moving downwards towards the dangers of a totalitarian state. He suggests that those who sacrifice freedom for the sake of security are, despite their good intentions, inadvertently contributing to the decline of society.

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