--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Arbitrariness and true liberty are as…" description: "\"Arbitrariness and true liberty are as distinct from each other that the empirical nature is distinct from the higher nature of man.\" — African Spir" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/african-spir-10042_freedom_arbitrariness-and-true-liberty-are-as-di_1151025.jpg" --- # Arbitrariness and true liberty are as distinct from each… ![“Arbitrariness and true liberty are as distinct from each other that the empirical nature is distinct from the higher nature of man.” quote by African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/african-spir-10042_freedom_arbitrariness-and-true-liberty-are-as-di_1151025.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/african-spir-10042_freedom_arbitrariness-and-true-liberty-are-as-di_1151025.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/african-spir-10042_freedom_arbitrariness-and-true-liberty-are-as-di_1151025.jpg) > “Arbitrariness and true liberty are as distinct from each other that the empirical nature is distinct from the higher nature of man.” [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True liberty differs fundamentally from arbitrary choices; higher human nature transcends empirical constraints. **In simple terms:** Freedom is deeper than random choice. Key Takeaway Seek higher purpose beyond mere freedom. Themes freedom human nature philosophy Mood thoughtful philosophical Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - personal decision making - political theory - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts Determinism autonomy existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What defines true liberty for you? - How do you balance freedom with responsibility? A Different Perspective Liberty may be limited by societal structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [Every established order tends to produce the naturalization of its own arbitrariness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bourdieu/every-established-order-tends-to-produce-the-naturalization-of-its/) [Pierre Bourdieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bourdieu/) > [People are, by and large, quite poor at judging correct absolute values but are astute about determining relative values. Psychologists call this coherent arbitrariness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mauboussin/people-are-by-and-large-quite-poor-at-judging-correct-absolute-values/) [Michael Mauboussin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mauboussin/) > [If language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-language-is-not-correct-then-what-is-said-is-not-what-is-meant-if-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is in the very nature of a beginning to carry with itself a measure of complete arbitrariness. Not only is it not bound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/it-is-in-the-very-nature-of-a-beginning-to-carry-with-itself-a/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [“Naturally there was the notion of private property as a pragmatic concept, for individuals or groups have a proclivity to tend to their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/naturally-there-was-the-notion-of-private-property-as-a-pragmatic/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees one's self. And the arbitrariness of the constraint serves only to obtain precision of execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-stravinsky/the-more-constraints-one-imposes-the-more-one-frees-one-s-self-and/) [Igor Stravinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-stravinsky/) > [“The rich never give you anything (dixit A.). Wealth is unrelenting; it always screws you. Those who are rich in intelligence, power and beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/the-rich-never-give-you-anything-dixit-a-wealth-is-unrelenting-it/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [The true liberty of the press is amply secured by permitting every man to publish his opinion; but it is due to the peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mckean/the-true-liberty-of-the-press-is-amply-secured-by-permitting-every/) Thomas McKean > [True liberty consists only in the power of doing what we ought to will, and in not being constrained to do what we ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power-of-doing-what-we-ought-to/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [Our institutions were not devised to bring about uniformity of opinion; if they had we might well abandon hope. It is important to remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-evans-hughes/our-institutions-were-not-devised-to-bring-about-uniformity-of/) [Charles Evans Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-evans-hughes/) > [In America, it is indispensable that every well wisher of true liberty should understand that acts of tyranny can only proceed from the publick.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/in-america-it-is-indispensable-that-every-well-wisher-of-true-liberty/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [True liberty acknowledges and defends the equal rights of all men, and all nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-smith/true-liberty-acknowledges-and-defends-the-equal-rights-of-all-men-and/) [Gerrit Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-smith/) > [“This, then, is true liberty: the joy that comes in doing what is right. At the same time, it is also devoted service in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/this-then-is-true-liberty-the-joy-that-comes-in-doing-what-is-right/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [This is true liberty, when free-born men, having to advise the public, may speak free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/this-is-true-liberty-when-free-born-men-having-to-advise-the-public/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [True liberty is not liberty to do evil as well as good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-winthrop/true-liberty-is-not-liberty-to-do-evil-as-well-as-good/) [John Winthrop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-winthrop/) ## More by African Spir > [There are some who esteem that it is a naivety to believe that a moral regeneration may be possible ("soit possible", Fr.); now, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/there-are-some-who-esteem-that-it-is-a-naivety-to-believe-that-a/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Up to here, in general, we have mainly stuffed the brain of the young people with a indigestible multitude of varios notions, without thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/up-to-here-in-general-we-have-mainly-stuffed-the-brain-of-the-young/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [When under the influence of certain (or some) reasons (or causes) (alcohol, war, etc - added Spir here) the low instincts are unbridled (or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/when-under-the-influence-of-certain-or-some-reasons-or-causes-alcohol/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [It goes without saying that only inner greatness possess a true value ("une valeur véritable,", Fr.) . Any attempt to rise up (or at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/it-goes-without-saying-that-only-inner-greatness-possess-a-true-value/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [In this world everything that is won to the ideal, is an eternal (or imperishable, - "impérissable", Fr.) good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/in-this-world-everything-that-is-won-to-the-ideal-is-an-eternal-or/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Nothing that rest on some contradictory basis shall succeed or last in the long run ("ne saurait réussir ou durer, à la longue", Fr.);…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/nothing-that-rest-on-some-contradictory-basis-shall-succeed-or-last/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Outward, thanks to the knowledge of physical laws, man could subdue (or subjugate...) nature, but inwardly, he remained a slave to it. For, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/outward-thanks-to-the-knowledge-of-physical-laws-man-could-subdue-or/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Whoever has recognized the vainglory of individuality will not attach any store ("n'attachera aucun prix à", Fr.) to fame. The only one thing which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/whoever-has-recognized-the-vainglory-of-individuality-will-not-attach/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [The basic notion of justice, is that the rights of everybody are equals, in principle. In the rights of others, we have to respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/the-basic-notion-of-justice-is-that-the-rights-of-everybody-are/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [We can, following the exemple of Kant, consider the moral development and improvement of men, as the supreme goal of human evolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/we-can-following-the-exemple-of-kant-consider-the-moral-development/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [It must be all the same to the citizens ("ressortissants", Fr.) of a country that their governing (those in power) speak such language or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/it-must-be-all-the-same-to-the-citizens-ressortissants-fr-of-a/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Possessions of this world have not been for the exclusive use by such or such category of individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/possessions-of-this-world-have-not-been-for-the-exclusive-use-by-such/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [There are (or is) indeed no contradiction between science and religion, the fields of which are different, and which, far from mutually fighting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/there-are-or-is-indeed-no-contradiction-between-science-and-religion/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Whether we had a (good) moral intuition more developed, we would be as much morally disgusted by the rapacity of those who try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/whether-we-had-a-good-moral-intuition-more-developed-we-would-be-as/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [The divine element manifests itself (or show up) in man as well by his aptitude for science, than by his aptitude for virtue. True…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/the-divine-element-manifests-itself-or-show-up-in-man-as-well-by-his/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) [Explore all 68 African Spir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) ## More Arbitrariness quotes > [Every established order tends to produce the naturalization of its own arbitrariness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bourdieu/every-established-order-tends-to-produce-the-naturalization-of-its/) [Pierre Bourdieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bourdieu/) > [The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees one's self. And the arbitrariness of the constraint serves only to obtain precision of execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-stravinsky/the-more-constraints-one-imposes-the-more-one-frees-one-s-self-and/) [Igor Stravinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-stravinsky/) > [“Naturally there was the notion of private property as a pragmatic concept, for individuals or groups have a proclivity to tend to their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/naturally-there-was-the-notion-of-private-property-as-a-pragmatic/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [It is in the very nature of a beginning to carry with itself a measure of complete arbitrariness. Not only is it not bound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/it-is-in-the-very-nature-of-a-beginning-to-carry-with-itself-a/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [If language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-language-is-not-correct-then-what-is-said-is-not-what-is-meant-if-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People are, by and large, quite poor at judging correct absolute values but are astute about determining relative values. Psychologists call this coherent arbitrariness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mauboussin/people-are-by-and-large-quite-poor-at-judging-correct-absolute-values/) [Michael Mauboussin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mauboussin/) > [“The rich never give you anything (dixit A.). Wealth is unrelenting; it always screws you. Those who are rich in intelligence, power and beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/the-rich-never-give-you-anything-dixit-a-wealth-is-unrelenting-it/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) Browse all 8 Arbitrariness quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Arbitrariness and true liberty are as distinct from each other that the empirical nature is distinct from the higher nature of man.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "African Spir" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/arbitrariness-and-true-liberty-are-as-distinct-from-each-other-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arbitrariness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/arbitrariness-and-true-liberty-are-as-distinct-from-each-other-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/african-spir-10042_freedom_arbitrariness-and-true-liberty-are-as-di_1151025.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/african-spir-10042_freedom_arbitrariness-and-true-liberty-are-as-di_1151025.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/african-spir-10042_freedom_arbitrariness-and-true-liberty-are-as-di_1151025.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Arbitrariness and true liberty are as distinct from each other that the empirical nature is distinct from…” — African Spir", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "African Spir", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Arbitrariness and true liberty are as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/arbitrariness-and-true-liberty-are-as-distinct-from-each-other-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/arbitrariness-and-true-liberty-are-as-distinct-from-each-other-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```