they anticipated your last conclusion! and enshrined it for all time, in the pithy sentence

Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.


Whenever we forget the regular, unfailing 'action' implicit in that principle - we'll trade citizenship for the label consumer; replace vigilance... with indifference, shopping and - Tee Vee infotainment.




The Watchtower (religious) Society got One thing right,

Awake!