"Freedom requires power first" is a trite remark (9)
I believe the answer is:
platitude
'a trite remark' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'freedom requires power first' is the wordplay.
'freedom' becomes 'latitude' (latitude is a kind of freedom).
'requires power' becomes 'p' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'first' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'latitude' after 'p' is 'PLATITUDE'.
'is' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for platitude that I've seen before include "Trite remark made as if meaningful" , "Trite or obvious remark" , "Commonplace remark, banal or trite" , "We've heard that before" , "Banality" .)