Quote by John Philpot Curran
It is the common fate of the indolent to see their rights become a prey to the active. The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt.
Summary
This quote by Irish political philosopher and author John Philpot Curran emphasizes the importance of staying vigilant and active in order to protect one's rights and liberty. It suggests that those who are lazy or idle in defending their rights will inevitably have them taken away by those who are proactive. Curran argues that freedom is not a given, but rather a condition that must be constantly maintained through watchfulness and engagement. When one fails to fulfill this responsibility, they're not only enabling their own enslavement but also facing the consequences of negligence.