“Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God.”
- January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790
- American
- Polymath, Founding Father of the United States, Inventor, Diplomat, Writer
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Quote
“Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God.”
Explanation
This bold and striking quote, often attributed to Benjamin Franklin and sometimes to Thomas Jefferson, expresses the idea that resisting unjust authority is not only a political duty, but a moral and even sacred obligation. The phrase equates rebellion against tyranny with faithfulness to divine principles, framing the fight for liberty as aligned with a higher moral law. It suggests that true obedience to God means standing against oppression and injustice.
Franklin, a key architect of the American Revolution, believed that liberty and natural rights were not merely legal concepts but inherent to human dignity. This quote, which he reportedly proposed as a motto for the Great Seal of the United States, reflects the revolutionary conviction that governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed, and that when rulers become tyrannical, resistance becomes a virtue rather than a crime.
In modern times, the quote remains a powerful rallying cry for those standing against authoritarianism and abuse of power. It resonates in contexts of civil resistance, democratic movements, and human rights struggles around the world. Franklin’s message endures: defending freedom and justice is not only a political act—it is a moral imperative, one that transcends law and aligns with the highest ideals of human and divine order.
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