Freedom is an Irksome Burden — Unless a Man Has the Talents to Make Something of Himself

The knowledge you have about freedom denies the very possibility of freedom. When you stop looking at yourself with the knowledge you have, the demand to be free from that self drops away -U. G. Krishnamurti

When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other -Eric Hoffer

Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom —Albert Einstein

Free men are aware of the imperfection inherent in human affairs, and they are willing to fight and die for that which is not perfect. They know that basic human problems can have no final solutions, that our freedom, justice, equality, etc. are far from absolute, and that the good life is compounded of half measures, compromises, lesser evils, and gropings toward the perfect. The rejection of approximations and the insistence on absolutes are the manifestation of a nihilism that loathes freedom, tolerance, and equity -Eric Hoffer

Uncertainty and fear seek guidance and compel obedience and worship of authority; tradition, education create for us many patterns of obedience. If sometimes we do not accept and obey symbols of outward authority we create our own inner authority, the subtle voice of our self. But through obedience freedom cannot be known; freedom comes with understanding, not through acceptance of authority nor through imitation. -Krishnamurti

Thus, the conflict of duality exists only when there is the naming of the feelings, and if we do not term the feelings, there is freedom from the conflict. What is then important for you is to find out, in our daily life, the truth of this, and then you will be content with a more peaceful and serene and intelligent life. When you come to that point you can find out the significance of life, what it really means to love, and not its dictionary meaning, not a philosophical meaning for you to follow. When we come to that point, we can talk of other subjects like dreams, whether the Communist is right or the Rightist is right, and so on. The understanding of Truth gives freedom and therefore happiness. -Krishnamurti

Self-reliance is the only road to true freedom, and being one’s own person is its ultimate reward. -Patricia Sampson

People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid -Soren Kierkegaard