Independence may be found in comparative as well as in absolute abundance; I mean where a person contracts his desires within the limits of his fortune.
—William Shenstone (1714–63) British Poet, Landscape Gardener
The most unpardonable sin in society is independence of thought.
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940) Lithuanian-American Anarchist, Feminist
Without moral and intellectual independence, there is no anchor for national independence.
—David Ben-Gurion (1886–1973) Russian-born Israeli Head of State
Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
He is a good man whose intimate friends are all good, and whose enemies are decidedly bad.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Do not destroy that immortal emblem of humanity, the Declaration of Independence.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
—William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) American Presbyterian Minister
The greatest thing in the world is to know how to be self-sufficient.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Don’t let them fool ya,
Or even try to school ya! Oh, no!
We’ve got a mind of our own,
So go to hell if what you’re thinking is not right!
Love would never leave us alone,
A-yin the darkness there must come out to light.
—Bob Marley (1945–81) Jamaican Musician, Singer, Songwriter
If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.
—Unknown
The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.
—Swedish Proverb
If we value independence, if we are disturbed by the growing conformity of knowledge, of values, of attitudes, which our present system induces, then we may wish to set up conditions of learning which make for uniqueness, for self-direction, and for self-initiated learning.
—Carl Rogers (1902–1987) American Psychologist
Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.
—Buddhist Teaching
In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Inventor
Economic independence is the foundation of the only sort of freedom worth a damn
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone.
—Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) Norwegian Playwright
I don’t need anyone to rectify my existence. The most profound relationship we will ever have is the one with ourselves.
—Shirley MacLaine (b.1934) American Actress, Dancer, Activist
Independence – is loyalty to one’s best self and principles, and this is often disloyalty to the general idols and fetishes
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Freedom is the emancipation from the arbitrary rule of other men.
—Mortimer J. Adler (1902–2001) American Philosopher, Educator
The ship of heaven guides itself and will not accept a wooden rudder.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Injustice in the end produces independence.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
There is no dependence that can be sure but a dependence upon one’s self.
—John Gay (1685–1732) English Poet, Dramatist
The first of earthly blessings, independence.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
The longer I am out of office, the more infallible I appear to myself.
—Henry Kissinger (1923–2023) American Diplomat, Academician
Our treatment of both older people and children reflects the value we place on independence and autonomy. We do our best to make our children independent from birth. We leave them all alone in rooms with the lights out and tell them, “Go to sleep by yourselves.” And the old people we respect most are the ones who will fight for their independence, who would sooner starve to death than ask for help.
—Margaret Mead (1901–78) American Anthropologist, Social Psychologist
In the word of no master am I bound to believe.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
We carry our homes within us which enables us to fly.
—John Cage (1912–92) American Composer
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