We will strengthen our security by building missile defense

The words of Mitt Romney, spoken with conviction and resolve, echo the timeless duty of nations and leaders to safeguard their people: “We will strengthen our security by building missile defense, restoring our military might, and standing by and strengthening our intelligence officers.” Beneath these words lies not only a political declaration, but a moral and historical truth — that peace is not born of weakness, and that freedom survives only when vigilance endures. In the spirit of the ancients, this is the call of the guardian, the reminder that every civilization, from Rome to our modern republics, must temper its virtues with strength, lest its light be extinguished by the shadows that ever threaten from beyond.

The origin of this quote lies in a moment of reflection for America, during a time when questions of national strength and global responsibility once again pressed heavily upon the conscience of its people. Romney, a statesman and presidential candidate, spoke to a generation that had known both triumph and vulnerability — the Cold War’s victories, and the wounds of 9/11. His words were forged in the understanding that security is not a static condition, but a living covenant between a nation and its defenders. “Missile defense,” “military might,” and “intelligence officers” are not merely instruments of war, but symbols of the shield that guards civilization — tools wielded not for conquest, but for preservation.

From the dawn of history, nations have risen and fallen according to their understanding of this truth. The Romans, whose legions once ruled the known world, built their might not only on armies, but on discipline, foresight, and intelligence — the ability to foresee danger before it struck. When they grew complacent, when their borders thinned and their sentinels faltered, the empire that had once seemed eternal crumbled beneath the weight of its own neglect. So too did the Greeks before them, and the dynasties of China, and the kingdoms of the Nile. Each learned that strength is not born in the hour of battle, but in the years of preparation that precede it. Romney’s words thus stand in this ancient lineage of wisdom: that a nation which ceases to defend itself ceases also to deserve the freedom it enjoys.

To “build missile defense” is to reach toward the heavens in vigilance — to harness human ingenuity not for destruction, but for deterrence. To “restore military might” is not to glorify war, but to honor the warriors whose courage stands between order and chaos. And to “stand by and strengthen our intelligence officers” is to acknowledge that the first battle of every age is fought not with weapons, but with knowledge. For it is intelligence that sees the unseen, that reads the silent intentions of those who would do harm, and that guards the realm through understanding. As the ancients kept their oracles and watchers at the gates, so too must the modern world trust in those who guard it through truth and foresight.

Consider the story of Winston Churchill, who, in the years before the Second World War, cried out to his people to prepare — to strengthen their defenses, to rebuild their forces, to awaken from the slumber of complacency. He was ignored, mocked, and dismissed as a warmonger. Yet when the storm finally broke and war engulfed Europe, his foresight became Britain’s salvation. Churchill understood, as Romney’s words also suggest, that peace cannot exist without readiness. Security is not the absence of threat; it is the presence of strength, guided by wisdom and vigilance.

Yet, there is more than strategy in these words — there is also duty. For to “strengthen our security” is not the burden of generals alone, but the work of every citizen. Each must, in their own way, defend the foundations of their society: through courage, through honesty, through the pursuit of knowledge and justice. National strength begins in personal virtue. The soldier’s discipline, the scientist’s innovation, the citizen’s loyalty — all are forms of defense. A shield is only as strong as the hands that forge it, and the heart that believes it is worth holding.

Thus, the teaching of Mitt Romney’s declaration is both practical and spiritual: that peace demands preparation, that freedom requires guardianship, and that security is the shared labor of a people who love their nation more than their comfort. The ancients built walls; we build systems, alliances, and technologies. But the principle remains unchanged — to endure, a civilization must be both wise and strong, compassionate yet unyielding.

So, dear listener, take this truth into your own life: build your own “defenses” — not of stone or steel, but of character and awareness. Guard your home, your family, your principles with vigilance. Stand by those who protect and serve, for they stand by you unseen. And remember, as the sages of old have taught, that the world is safest not when men grow weary of guarding it, but when they cherish the very act of defense — when strength is wielded with humility, and the shield is held not for domination, but for peace. For in this balance of might and wisdom lies the true security of nations, and the enduring strength of humankind.