We have an incredible warrior class in this country - people in

The words of Brad Thor, “We have an incredible warrior class in this country—people in law enforcement, intelligence—and I thank God every night we have them standing fast to protect us from the tremendous amount of evil that exists in the world,” echo with both reverence and solemn truth. They are not mere words of admiration, but a hymn to the guardians who walk unseen among us. Beneath his statement lies the ancient understanding that every civilization, to endure, must be protected not only by strength of arms but by strength of spirit. Thor speaks of the warrior class, a lineage as old as humanity itself—the men and women who choose vigilance over comfort, sacrifice over safety, and the defense of others over the pursuit of their own ease.

To call them a warrior class is to place them among the timeless protectors of human order. In ancient societies, this class was not defined merely by weapon or rank, but by purpose. The Spartans, the Samurai, the Roman Centurions, the Knights of Christendom—each stood as a living barrier between their people and the darkness that sought to devour civilization. So too, Thor reminds us, do the modern warriors of law enforcement and intelligence continue this sacred duty. Their battlefields may not be open plains or walled cities, but hidden corners of the modern world—streets shadowed by crime, and networks woven by unseen hands of malice. Yet the call they answer is the same as it has ever been: to hold fast against the encroachment of evil.

The origin of this quote lies not in grand speeches or political ceremony, but in the gratitude of a man who understands the fragility of peace. Brad Thor, a novelist of espionage and courage, has long written of those who stand between order and chaos. His words are born from both imagination and reality, for in his research and friendships with those who serve, he has glimpsed the toll such service exacts. His acknowledgment of evil is not poetic exaggeration—it is recognition of a truth that every generation learns anew: that there are forces in the world bent on destruction, and only the brave, the disciplined, and the steadfast can hold them back.

Consider the story of the first responders on the morning of September 11, 2001—firefighters, police officers, intelligence agents, and ordinary citizens who rose into the fire rather than fled from it. They were the warrior class Thor speaks of, not bound by uniform alone, but by conviction. Many never returned, yet their courage preserved the flame of humanity amid the smoke of ruin. Their deeds, though born in tragedy, became the living proof of what Thor’s words mean: that civilization survives because there are always those willing to stand in the breach when darkness comes.

The phrase “standing fast” in Thor’s quote carries the gravity of ancient oaths. It is the language of the battlefield, the vow of one who will not yield even when the tide turns against them. It speaks not of aggression, but of steadfastness—the resolve to defend what is right, even when others falter. Such courage does not arise from anger, but from love: love of family, of neighbor, of country, of peace itself. The warrior stands not because he hates what lies before him, but because he cherishes what lies behind him. In this, Thor’s words echo the old Roman maxim, “Si vis pacem, para bellum”—“If you wish for peace, prepare for war.” The warrior is not the enemy of peace, but its guardian.

And yet, there is wisdom here for all, even for those who do not bear the badge or the sword. For each of us, in our own way, is called to be a guardian—of truth, of kindness, of justice within our own sphere. The evil that Thor names is not always distant or grand; it can creep into our homes, our hearts, our words. To stand fast in our daily lives—to defend integrity, to protect the innocent, to speak truth even when it costs us—is to share in that same sacred calling. The warrior class exists not only in the fields of battle, but in every person who chooses courage over cowardice and honor over indifference.

So let us learn from Thor’s tribute, and make it our own. Gratitude must be given to those who stand watch in the night, for their strength allows us to live freely in the day. But let that gratitude awaken in us the resolve to do our part. Be vigilant in your own heart; do not let cynicism or fear dull your compassion. Defend truth as fiercely as the soldier defends his homeland. For evil thrives where good men grow weary—but the world is preserved by those who do not.

And thus, as Brad Thor reminds us, give thanks for the warrior class, those who walk the hard road so that others may walk in peace. Honor them not only with words, but by living in the light they protect. And when your own moment of testing comes—as it surely will—remember this: to stand fast is the oldest, and holiest, act of courage. For the strength of nations rests not in their walls or weapons, but in the hearts of those who refuse to surrender to the dark.