The phrase encapsulates the fundamental objective of ensuring that the advantages and protections afforded by freedom are both obtained and safeguarded for present and future generations. It signifies a commitment to actively preserve and enhance the rights, privileges, and benefits inherent in a free society, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly. An example is the establishment of a judicial system that fairly applies laws to protect individual liberties.
The significance of this concept lies in its acknowledgement that liberty is not merely a static state but requires continuous effort to maintain. Benefits derived from safeguarding these freedoms include societal progress, individual fulfillment, and a stable, just society. Historically, it reflects the aspirations of the framers of constitutions and legal systems who sought to establish a framework for enduring freedom and prevent the erosion of fundamental rights.