--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Back then they had the freedom of knowing…" description: "\"“Back then they had the freedom of knowing each other barely at all; they were in gleeful possession of a leisurely future with all the doors still ope..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/a-s-a-harrison-16829_freedom_back-then-they-had-the-freedom-of-knowin_1405500.jpg" --- # Back then they had the freedom of knowing each other… ![“Back then they had the freedom of knowing each other barely at all; they were in gleeful possession of a leisurely future with all the doors still open and all the promises still fully redeemable.” quote by A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/a-s-a-harrison-16829_freedom_back-then-they-had-the-freedom-of-knowin_1405500.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/a-s-a-harrison-16829_freedom_back-then-they-had-the-freedom-of-knowin_1405500.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/a-s-a-harrison-16829_freedom_back-then-they-had-the-freedom-of-knowin_1405500.jpg) > ““Back then they had the freedom of knowing each other barely at all; they were in gleeful possession of a leisurely future with all the doors still open and all the promises still fully redeemable.”” [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early freedom allowed characters to imagine endless possibilities before constraints set in. **In simple terms:** Freedom gave them hopeful, open futures. Key Takeaway Preserve youthful optimism. Themes freedom possibility nostalgia Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - creative projects - personal growth Key Concepts existentialism future planning Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect optimism? - What limits future possibilities? A Different Perspective Idealism can clash with reality later. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Freedom is knowing who you really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/freedom-is-knowing-who-you-really-are/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [There is something challenging in shooting something in just one day and there is freedom knowing there is going to be no censorship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahir-raj-bhasin/there-is-something-challenging-in-shooting-something-in-just-one-day/) [Tahir Raj Bhasin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahir-raj-bhasin/) > [We breathed the air of freedom without knowing the language or any person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-sachs/we-breathed-the-air-of-freedom-without-knowing-the-language-or-any/) [Nelly Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-sachs/) > [“The battle is always between those who desire to be happy in the world and those who desire to be free - yet the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weiss/the-battle-is-always-between-those-who-desire-to-be-happy-in-the/) [Edward Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weiss/) > [“Freedom is knowing who you are, and once you know that the rest can straighten out itself if you really know who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stewart/freedom-is-knowing-who-you-are-and-once-you-know-that-the-rest-can/) Doug Stewart > [“Our only freedom is in knowing, from years of observation and experiencing, that all personally centered thoughts and emotions (and the actions born of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-j-beck/our-only-freedom-is-in-knowing-from-years-of-observation-and/) [Charlotte J. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-j-beck/) > [“You need other people, Madeline. There's a great freedom in knowing that. And accepting that. And letting people in. Letting them help you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-nelson/you-need-other-people-madeline-there-s-a-great-freedom-in-knowing/) [Blake Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-nelson/) > [Freedom is not choosing; that is merely the move that we make when all is already lost. Freedom is knowing and understanding and respecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/freedom-is-not-choosing-that-is-merely-the-move-that-we-make-when-all/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [My definition of freedom is knowing who you are, and then being it. No matter what anyone else is doing. And naked parties of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pink/my-definition-of-freedom-is-knowing-who-you-are-and-then-being-it-no/) [Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pink/) > [I crave the freedom of knowing that if I want to do something, I can do it. It's important that I live in such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errollyn-wallen/i-crave-the-freedom-of-knowing-that-if-i-want-to-do-something-i-can/) [Errollyn Wallen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errollyn-wallen/) > [“I found freedom in knowing that while I don’t have the answer, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be a solution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-newman/i-found-freedom-in-knowing-that-while-i-don-t-have-the-answer-that/) [Liz Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-newman/) > [The freedom of knowing that you're doing something off-kilter is liberating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krumholtz/the-freedom-of-knowing-that-you-re-doing-something-off-kilter-is/) [David Krumholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krumholtz/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [ I\] k\[n\]ow youre b\[e\]tt\[e\]r off without me. \[D\]ont worr\[y\] ab\[o\]\[u\]t me. Im fine. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinku-razoria/i-k-n-ow-youre-b-e-tt-e-r-off-without-me-d-ont-worr-y-ab-o-u-t-me-im/) [Tinku Razoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinku-razoria/) ## More by A.S.A. Harrison > [“It's the daily patterns that make a marriage, the habits you fall into as a couple. These become a kind of background rhythm for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/it-s-the-daily-patterns-that-make-a-marriage-the-habits-you-fall-into/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [She didn't know then that life has a way of backing you into a corner. You make your choices when you're far too young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/she-didn-t-know-then-that-life-has-a-way-of-backing-you-into-a-corner/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [Every shrink knows that it's not the event itself but how you respond to it that tells the story. Take ten assorted individuals, expose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/every-shrink-knows-that-it-s-not-the-event-itself-but-how-you-respond/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [“The woman who refuses to object, who doesn’t yell and scream—there’s strength in that, and power. The way she overrides sentiment, won’t enter into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/the-woman-who-refuses-to-object-who-doesn-t-yell-and-scream-there-s/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [Other people are not here to fulfill our needs or meet our expectations, nor will they always treat us well. Failure to accept this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/other-people-are-not-here-to-fulfill-our-needs-or-meet-our/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [As for herself, every morning on waking she gives thanks to the God she doesn't disbelieve in. Although she can't credit him with saving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/as-for-herself-every-morning-on-waking-she-gives-thanks-to-the-god/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [Even if you forget that´s not the same as if it never happened. The slate is not entirely wiped clean; you can´t reclaim the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/even-if-you-forget-that-s-not-the-same-as-if-it-never-happened-the/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [“deep-seated feelings of inferiority that drive him to continually prove himself. According to Adler, having a good measure of self-esteem leaves us free to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/deep-seated-feelings-of-inferiority-that-drive-him-to-continually/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [We live alone in our cluttered psyches, possessed by our entrenched beliefs, our fatuous desires, our endless contradictions - and like it or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/we-live-alone-in-our-cluttered-psyches-possessed-by-our-entrenched/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [“She’s aware of her fondness for ledger keeping, a term that marriage counselors use to castigate their clients for keeping a running tally of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/she-s-aware-of-her-fondness-for-ledger-keeping-a-term-that-marriage/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [Autumn can be glorious but menacing too - the long shadows, brisk winds, scurrying leaves, impending frost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/autumn-can-be-glorious-but-menacing-too-the-long-shadows-brisk-winds/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [“Other people are not here to fulfill our needs or meet our expectations, nor will they always treat us well. Failure to accept this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/other-people-are-not-here-to-fulfill-our-needs-or-meet-our-2/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [“Men are a race of suckers who don’t realize that having sex is the biggest risk they’ll ever take.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/men-are-a-race-of-suckers-who-don-t-realize-that-having-sex-is-the/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [“He’s a man whose touch is always warm, a matter of animal significance for someone who is nearly always cold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/he-s-a-man-whose-touch-is-always-warm-a-matter-of-animal-significance/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [“Time hangs suspended, and yet it's about to end. Death should be a seduction, not a rape. Given one more minute he could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/time-hangs-suspended-and-yet-it-s-about-to-end-death-should-be-a/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) [Explore all 37 A.S.A. Harrison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Back then they had the freedom of knowing each other barely at all; they were in gleeful possession of a leisurely future with all the doors still open and all the promises still fully redeemable.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "A.S.A. 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