“The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over its government”

Simplified Meaning:

To enjoy freedom and rights long-term, two things are important. First, the government must be strong and capable to protect and look after the needs of its citizens. Imagine you live in a town that had many thefts. The town needs a good police force to catch thieves and keep everyone safe. Second, the people must be smart and understand what their government is doing. It’s like a town council where everyone needs to be involved to ensure the police are doing their jobs right and not misusing their power. If the townspeople don’t pay attention, the police might become lazy or corrupt. In a democracy, this means voting, staying informed about issues, and holding leaders accountable. If citizens are lazy or uninformed, bad leaders can take over and harm their freedoms. So, for freedom to last, both good governance and active, educated citizens are essential.