--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Are you in earnest resolved never to…" description: "\"Are you in earnest resolved never to barter your liberty for the lordly servitude of a court, but to live free, fearless, and independent? There seems ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe6/adam-smith-1040_able_are-you-in-earnest-resolved-never-to-bar_2504157.jpg" --- # Are you in earnest resolved never to barter your liberty… ![“Are you in earnest resolved never to barter your liberty for the lordly servitude of a court, but to live free, fearless, and independent? There seems to be one way to continue in that virtuous resolution; and perhaps but one. Never enter the place from whence so few have been able to return…” quote by Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe6/adam-smith-1040_able_are-you-in-earnest-resolved-never-to-bar_2504157.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe6/adam-smith-1040_able_are-you-in-earnest-resolved-never-to-bar_2504157.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe6/adam-smith-1040_able_are-you-in-earnest-resolved-never-to-bar_2504157.jpg) > “Are you in earnest resolved never to barter your liberty for the lordly servitude of a court, but to live free, fearless, and independent? There seems to be one way to continue in that virtuous resolution; and perhaps but one. Never enter the place from whence so few have been able to return; never come within the circle of ambition; nor ever bring yourself into comparison with those masters of the earth who have already engrossed the attention of half mankind before you.” [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates steadfast personal liberty, warning against ambition and comparison that dilute true independence. **In simple terms:** Stay true, avoid ambition and comparison. Key Takeaway Guard your freedom, resist societal pressure. Themes freedom integrity individualism Mood serious inspirational Type philosophical political When to use this quote - career choices - political activism - personal decisions - leadership - social movements Key Concepts Moral philosophy political theory Questions to Reflect On - What does true freedom mean to you? - How can you balance ambition with independence? A Different Perspective Ambition can be a motivating force for growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Barter Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barter-liberty-1091394/) [Circles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circles/) [Comparison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparison/) [Continue Virtuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continue-virtuous-1091392/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Earnest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earnest/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Fearless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearless/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Independent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Live free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-free/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Resolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolution/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Servitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servitude/) [Virtuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtuous/) [Virtuous Resolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtuous-resolution-1091393/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [You mean that people who continue virtuous in an old-fashioned way must inevitably suffer in times like these?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/you-mean-that-people-who-continue-virtuous-in-an-old-fashioned-way/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [Justifying conscription to promote the cause of liberty is one of the most bizarre notions ever conceived by man! 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