--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Augustine taught that true freedom is not…" description: "\"“Augustine taught that true freedom is not choice or lack of constraint, but being what you are meant to be. Humans were created in the image of God. T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/augustine-of-hippo-2589_freedom_augustine-taught-that-true-freedom-is-no_988610.jpg" --- # Augustine taught that true freedom is not choice or lack… ![“Augustine taught that true freedom is not choice or lack of constraint, but being what you are meant to be. Humans were created in the image of God. True freedom, then, is not found in moving away from that image but only in living it out.” quote by Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/augustine-of-hippo-2589_freedom_augustine-taught-that-true-freedom-is-no_988610.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/augustine-of-hippo-2589_freedom_augustine-taught-that-true-freedom-is-no_988610.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/augustine-of-hippo-2589_freedom_augustine-taught-that-true-freedom-is-no_988610.jpg) > ““Augustine taught that true freedom is not choice or lack of constraint, but being what you are meant to be. Humans were created in the image of God. True freedom, then, is not found in moving away from that image but only in living it out.”” [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True freedom is aligning with one's divine purpose, not merely choosing without constraints; it follows the image of God. **In simple terms:** Freedom is living out your intended purpose, not just choosing anything. Key Takeaway Align actions with your deeper purpose. Themes freedom purpose theology self‑realization Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - spiritual practice - ethical decisions Key Concepts divine image existential authenticity theological determinism Questions to Reflect On - What purpose do you feel called to fulfill? - How does recognizing a divine image shape your choices? A Different Perspective Freedom can be limited by external pressures and personal doubts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustine/) [Augustine Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustine-taught-2010062/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-choice/) [Image-of-god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/image-of-god/) [True freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-freedom/) ## Related quotes > [I believe firmly that in making ethical decisions, man has the prerogative of true freedom of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/i-believe-firmly-that-in-making-ethical-decisions-man-has-the/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [“But what about the apparent absurdity of the idea of dignity, freedom, and reason, sustained by extreme military discipline, including of the practice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/but-what-about-the-apparent-absurdity-of-the-idea-of-dignity-freedom/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [“Seeing is the property of our eyes. 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Once it is attained, no situation in the world can bind one or limit one's freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/true-freedom-is-an-inward-state-of-being-once-it-is-attained-no/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [I would actually love to fly. I think that that would be probably the most exhilarating feeling, and as close as you can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-larter/i-would-actually-love-to-fly-i-think-that-that-would-be-probably-the/) [Ali Larter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-larter/) > [“You cannot fellowship with God when you disqualify another person from fellowshipping with you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-cannot-fellowship-with-god-when-you-disqualify-another-person/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Work is not about survival alone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/work-is-not-about-survival-alone/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“We are what we love. If we love God, in whose image we were created, we discover ourselves in him and we cannot help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-are-what-we-love-if-we-love-god-in-whose-image-we-were-created-we/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“You cannot receive God when you block people from your life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-cannot-receive-god-when-you-block-people-from-your-life/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“I believe that people are holy because they’re made in the image of God, and a place can be holy when God is present—but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-brock/i-believe-that-people-are-holy-because-they-re-made-in-the-image-of/) [Jared Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-brock/) > [“Work is an instrument for fulfilling purpose”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/work-is-an-instrument-for-fulfilling-purpose/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Man is the centrality of God’s purpose on earth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/man-is-the-centrality-of-god-s-purpose-on-earth/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Work is designed to be in your own field of calling”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/work-is-designed-to-be-in-your-own-field-of-calling/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) ## More by Augustine of Hippo > [“We are inflamed, by Thy Gift we are kindled; and are carried upwards; we glow inwardly, and go forwards. We ascend Thy ways that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/we-are-inflamed-by-thy-gift-we-are-kindled-and-are-carried-upwards-we/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Faith seeks, understanding finds. This is why the prophet says, ‘Unless you believe, you will not understand”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/faith-seeks-understanding-finds-this-is-why-the-prophet-says-unless/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Time takes no holiday. It does not roll idly by, but through our senses works its own wonders in the mind. Time came and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/time-takes-no-holiday-it-does-not-roll-idly-by-but-through-our-senses/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“So it falls out that in this world, in evil days like these, the Church walks onward like a wayfarer stricken by the world's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/so-it-falls-out-that-in-this-world-in-evil-days-like-these-the-church/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Pride is the beginning of sin. And what is pride but the craving for undue exaltation? 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I now commit myself wholly to His care and clemency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/let-him-do-what-pleases-him-let-him-disclose-himself-when-it-pleases/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“and even now we labor in our residual gloom, until in your only Son we become your righteousness; for that righteousness is like God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/and-even-now-we-labor-in-our-residual-gloom-until-in-your-only-son-we/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Thus, every entity, even if it is a defective one, in so far as it is an entity, is good. In so far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/thus-every-entity-even-if-it-is-a-defective-one-in-so-far-as-it-is-an/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“But unscrupulous ambition has nothing to work upon, save in a nation corrupted by avarice and luxury. Moreover, a people becomes avaricious and luxurious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/but-unscrupulous-ambition-has-nothing-to-work-upon-save-in-a-nation/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of the faith is to see what we believe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/faith-is-to-believe-what-we-do-not-see-and-the-reward-of-the-faith-is/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“For instantly, as the sentence ended, there was infused in my heart something like the light of full certainty and all the gloom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/for-instantly-as-the-sentence-ended-there-was-infused-in-my-heart/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“And yet, will we ever come to an end of discussion and talk if we think we must always reply to replies? For replies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/and-yet-will-we-ever-come-to-an-end-of-discussion-and-talk-if-we/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“If, on the contrary, they hear from you about themselves, they will be in no position to say, “The Lord is lying.” Is hearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/if-on-the-contrary-they-hear-from-you-about-themselves-they-will-be/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) [Explore all 153 Augustine of Hippo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) ## More Augustine quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [ Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. 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But the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stove/people-are-mostly-sane-enough-of-course-in-the-affairs-of-common-life/) [David Stove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stove/) > [“I have become an enigma to myself. So said Saint Augustine. And herein lies my sickness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/i-have-become-an-enigma-to-myself-so-said-saint-augustine-and-herein/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Augustine says that we may, out of our dead sins, make stepping stones to rise to the heights of perfection. What did he mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stalker/augustine-says-that-we-may-out-of-our-dead-sins-make-stepping-stones/) [James Stalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stalker/) > [St. Augustine teaches us that there is in each man a Serpent, an Eve, and an Adam. 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