Rehearse death. To say this is to tell a person to rehearse his freedom. A person who has learned how to die has unlearned how to be a slave. He is above, or at any rate, beyond the reach of, all political powers.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
I consider each of my dollars to be investment “soldiers,” and their mission is “freedom”.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
American freedom consists largely in talking nonsense.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
What a curious phenomenon it is that you can get men to die for the liberty of the world who will not make the little sacrifice that is needed to free themselves from their own individual bondage.
—Bruce Fairchild Barton (1886–1967) American Author, Advertising Executive, Politician
You don’t have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being.
—Malcolm X (1925–65) American Civil Rights Leader
The war for freedom will never really be won because the price of freedom is constant vigilance over ourselves and over our Government.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
If you make a living, if you earn your own money, you’re free—however free one can be on this planet.
—Theodore H. White (1915–86) American Journalist, Historian, Novelist
There are two freedoms—the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist
Responsibility of any kind can seem intimidating and for this reason man may often be afraid of truly deep relationships with other human beings. A relationship suggests to him the most extreme of responsibilities. It implies a burden, a restriction of freedom, seldom the converse. A student in love class, for instance, commented, “I’ve always been afraid of deep relationship because of the responsibility it seemed to impose. I was afraid of the demands it would make of me and I worried I wouldn’t be able to meet those demands. I was amazed to find that when I did get the courage to form a relationship, I actually became stronger. I acquired two minds instead of one, four hands, four arms, four legs, and another’s world. In joining forces with someone, I got twice the strength to grow, with twice as many alternatives. Now it’s easier for me to love others. I am stronger and I am less afraid”. He had discovered an important insight.
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
Freedom is the emancipation from the arbitrary rule of other men.
—Mortimer J. Adler (1902–2001) American Philosopher, Educator
Freedom has a thousand charms to show,
That slaves, howe’er contented, never know.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Nothing is more disgusting than the crowing about liberty by slaves, as most men are, and the flippant mistaking for freedom of some paper preamble like a Declaration of Independence, or the statute right to vote, by those who have never dared to think or to act.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The saving man becomes the free man.
—Chinese Proverb
Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.
—John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) Sixth President of the USA
He who is brave is free.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Only our individual faith in freedom can keep us free.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
Whatever the price, identify it now. What will you have to go through to get where you want to be? There is a price you can pay to be free of the situation once and for all. It may be a fantastic price or a tiny one—but there is a price.
—Harry Browne (1933–2006) American Politician, Investor, Writer
If we do not believe in freedom of speech for those we despise we do not believe in it at all.
—Noam Chomsky (b.1928) American Linguist, Social Critic
Freedom to be your best is nothing unless you’re willing to do your best.
—Colin Powell (1937–2021) American Military Leader
There is no thought or situation that you can’t put up against inquiry. Every thought, every person, every apparent problem is here for the sake of your freedom.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
The law will never make men free, it is men that have to make the law free.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
We, and all others who believe in freedom as deeply as we do, would rather die on our feet than live on our knees.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
I believe in freedom—social, economical, domestic, political, mental and spiritual.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Impeccability of the word can lead you to personal freedom, to huge success and abundance; it can take away all fear and transform it into joy and love.
—Miguel Angel Ruiz (b.1952) Mexican Spiritualist Author
Tyrants have not yet discovered any chains that can fetter the mind.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.
—Malcolm X (1925–65) American Civil Rights Leader
If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom; and the irony of it is that, if it is comfort or money it values more, it will lose that too
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents. There is no safe deposit for these but with the people themselves; nor can they be safe with them without information. Where the press is free, and every man able to read, all is safe.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Freedom means you are unobstructed in living your life as you choose. Anything less is a form of slavery.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author