--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The very aim and end of our institutions…" description: "\"The very aim and end of our institutions is just this: that we may think what we like and say what we think.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/anonymous-1_aim_the-very-aim-and-end-of-our-institutions_2680051.jpg" --- # The very aim and end of our institutions is just this… ![“The very aim and end of our institutions is just this: that we may think what we like and say what we think.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/anonymous-1_aim_the-very-aim-and-end-of-our-institutions_2680051.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/anonymous-1_aim_the-very-aim-and-end-of-our-institutions_2680051.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/anonymous-1_aim_the-very-aim-and-end-of-our-institutions_2680051.jpg) > “The very aim and end of our institutions is just this: that we may think what we like and say what we think.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. States institutions exist so we can think freely and speak truthfully **In simple terms:** Institutions enable free thought and speech Key Takeaway Value free thought and honest speech Themes freedom speech institutional purpose Mood critical thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - public discourse - education - political activism Key Concepts democracy philosophy of language Questions to Reflect On - How do institutions support free thought? - What limits do they impose? A Different Perspective Institutions may restrict freedom ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [End Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-institutions-2572617/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Institutions Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions-just-2572616/) [Just Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-think/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Say Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-think/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of our respected financial institutions are just casinos in drag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/a-lot-of-our-respected-financial-institutions-are-just-casinos-in-drag/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [If I am not what you say I am, then you are not who you think you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-am-not-what-you-say-i-am-then-you-are-not-who-you-think-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You dont have to bother anymore about what will you be wen u grow up, u can be outrageous say what u think, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-dont-have-to-bother-anymore-about-what-will-you-be-wen-u-grow-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No matter what they say or think, no matter who you are or what you think, you're amazing just the way you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-what-they-say-or-think-no-matter-who-you-are-or-what-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love you and you love me. We don't need to worry about what other say or think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-you-and-you-love-me-we-don-t-need-to-worry-about-what-other/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Accept who you are. Don't be afraid of what others say, think or do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accept-who-you-are-don-t-be-afraid-of-what-others-say-think-or-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think that's good that I have to watch how I act and what I say. I think that's a part of growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-that-s-good-that-i-have-to-watch-how-i-act-and-what-i-say-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are not living in a private world of our own. Everything we say and do and think has its effect on everything around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-not-living-in-a-private-world-of-our-own-everything-we-say-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [:its better to love yourself and igore what people say and think, then to hate yourself and listen to wat others thinkin and say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-better-to-love-yourself-and-igore-what-people-say-and-think-then/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The thing about people like me who mean everything we say. We think everyone else does too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-thing-about-people-like-me-who-mean-everything-we-say-we-think/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate it when I say something I think is special & he dosnt even understand it because he's not thinking the samw way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-it-when-i-say-something-i-think-is-special-he-dosnt-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And thats the thing about people who mean everything they say. They think everyone else does too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-thats-the-thing-about-people-who-mean-everything-they-say-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Suddenly, I don't know what to say. It happens often to me. I know what I want to say, I think about whether it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/suddenly-i-don-t-know-what-to-say-it-happens-often-to-me-i-know-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Before you say something, think how you'd feel if someone said it to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-you-say-something-think-how-you-d-feel-if-someone-said-it-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I say,. What I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-i-say-what-i-think/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The very aim and end of our institutions is just this: that we may think what we like and say what we think.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-very-aim-and-end-of-our-institutions-is-just-this-that-we-may/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aim" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-very-aim-and-end-of-our-institutions-is-just-this-that-we-may/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/anonymous-1_aim_the-very-aim-and-end-of-our-institutions_2680051.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/anonymous-1_aim_the-very-aim-and-end-of-our-institutions_2680051.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/anonymous-1_aim_the-very-aim-and-end-of-our-institutions_2680051.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The very aim and end of our institutions is just this: that we may think what we like and say what we think.” — Anonymous", "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": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The very aim and end of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-very-aim-and-end-of-our-institutions-is-just-this-that-we-may/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-very-aim-and-end-of-our-institutions-is-just-this-that-we-may/#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 } } ] } ```