# How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It - Author: [James Wesley Rawles](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles.md) - Quotes: 14 - Book page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it ## Quotes > Tangibles trump conceptuals. Modern fiat currencies are generally accepted, but have essentially no backing. Because they are largely a by-product of interest-bearing debt, modern currencies are destined for inflation. In the long run, inflation dooms fiat currencies to collapse. The majority of your assets should be invested in productive farmland and other tangibles such as useful hand tools. After you have your key logistics squared away, anything extra should be invested in silver and gold. p. 14 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/tangibles-trump-conceptuals.md) > There is no substitute for mass. Mass stops bullets. Mass stops gamma radiation. Mass stops (or at least slows down) bad guys from entering a home and depriving its residents of life and property. Sandbags are cheap, so buy plenty of them. When planning your retreat house, think: medieval castle. p. 18 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/there-is-no-substitute.md) > As a Christian, I feel morally obligated to assist others who are less fortunate. Following the Old Testament laws of tzedakah (charity and tithing), I believe that my responsibility begins with my immediate family and expands in successive rings to supporting my immediate neighborhood and church, to my community, and beyond, as resources allow. My philosophy is to give until it hurts in times of disaster. p. 16 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/as-a-christian.md) > With a few exceptions, lower population [density] means fewer problems [for survivalist retreats]. When the Schumer Hits the Fan, there will be a mass exodus from the cities. Think of it as an army that is spreading out across a battlefield: The wider they are spread, the less effective they are. The inverse-square law hasn’t been repealed. p. 12 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/with-a-few.md) > Modern military planners often talk in terms of “threat spirals” when a given threat escalates and inspires a defensive countermeasure. Ideally you should anticipate your opponent’s next escalation and take countermeasures, insulating yourself from the future threat. p. 202 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/modern-military-planners.md) > Whenever someone must buy a license or pay a fee to exercise a right, then it is something less than a right. It is in fact a mere privilege, subject to the whim of petty bureaucrats. Fundamental rights are not abstract tokens that are given or sold by other men. They are in fact primary liberties bestowed upon us by God, our maker. Rights are not substantially secured by asking, "Mother may I?" of any government agency. Rights are more properly demanded or boldly seized and then conspicuously exercised regularly. This secures the liberties that have legitimately belonged to us since birth. If need be, lost rights can and must be restored through proscriptive use. If you live in a land where your rights have been marginalized into privileges, then it is either time to change your government, or to change your address. Much like a muscle that atrophies with disuse, any right that goes unexercised for many years devolves into a privilege, and eventually can even be redefined as a crime. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/whenever-someone-must.md) > Owning a gun doesn’t make someone a “shooter” any more than owning a surfboard makes someone a surfer. p. 15 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/owning-a-gun.md) > Governments tend to expand their power to the point that they do harm. In SurvivalBlog, I often warn of the insidious tyranny of the Nanny State... ...If the state where you live becomes oppressive, then don’t hesitate to relocate. Vote with your feet! p. 14 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/governments-tend-to-expand.md) > If you are serious about preparedness, then it is time to get out of your armchair and start training and preparing. It will take time. It will take some sweat. It will take money. But once you’ve prepared, you can sleep well, knowing that you’ve done your best to protect and provide for your family, regardless of what the future brings. Don’t get stuck in the rut of simply *studying* preparedness. Unless the shelves in your pantry and garage are filling with supplies, and unless you are growing muscles and calluses, you are not preparing. p. 289 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/if-you-are.md) > It is one of the great ironies of our modern 'civilized' era that in most of the places where you don't feel the need to carry a firearm for self defense you can legally do so if you choose. But in most of places where you do indeed justifiably feel the immediate need to carry a gun, they are banned. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/it-is-one.md) > The modern world [of survivalism] is full of pundits, poseurs, and Mall Ninjas. Preparedness is not just about accumulating a pile of stuff. You need practical skills, and those come only with study, training, and practice. Any armchair survivalist with a credit card can buy a set of stylish camouflage fatigues and an “M4gery” carbine encrusted with umpteen accessories. Style points should not be mistaken for genuine skills and practicality. p. 13 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/the-modern-world.md) > The foundational morality of the civilized world is best summarized in the Ten Commandments. Moral relativism and secular humanism are slippery slopes. The terminal moraine at the base of these slopes is a rubble pile consisting of either despotism and pillage, or anarchy and the depths of depravity. I believe that it takes both faith and friends to survive perilous times. p. 13 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/the-foundational-morality.md) > Some things are worth fighting for. I encourage my readers to avoid trouble, most importantly via relocation to safe areas where trouble is unlikely to visit. But there may come an unavoidable day when you have to make a stand to defend your own family or your neighbors. Furthermore, if you value your liberty, then be prepared to fight for it, both for yourself and for the sake of your progeny. p. 18 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/some-things-are.md) > My father often told me, “It is better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it.” I urge readers to use less than lethal means when safe and practicable, but at times there is not a satisfactory substitute for well-aimed lead going down range at high velocity. p. 12 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-wesley-rawles/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/my-father-often.md)