"Je crois qu'il y a plus de cas d'atteinte à la liberté du peuple par des empiètements graduels et silencieux de ceux au pouvoir que par des usurpations violentes et soudaines"

Simplified Meaning:

People often lose their freedoms bit by bit, without realizing it, through small, unnoticed actions by those in charge, rather than through big, obvious takeovers. For example, imagine a neighborhood where the local government slowly adds more rules about what people can do with their homes, like when they can have visitors, what color they can paint their houses, or where they can park. At first, each new rule might not seem like a big deal, but over time, all these little rules add up and people find they have much less freedom than they used to. In history, many governments have expanded their control by making little changes over time that people didn't notice until their freedoms were significantly reduced. For example, during the Roman Empire, the government gradually took more control over different aspects of daily life, which people accepted as minor inconveniences at first. By the time they realized how much power the government had taken, it was too late to easily change things back to how they were. To apply this to your life, stay aware of small changes around you that might take away your freedom or choices, even if they seem harmless at first. Question and think critically about new rules or changes in policies, and speak up if you notice a pattern that might lead to bigger losses of freedom over time. Working together with others to keep power in check is important for maintaining your rights and liberties.