--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The free man must be born before freedom…" description: "\"The free man must be born before freedom can be won, and the brotherly man must be born before full brotherhood can be won. It will come into being onl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/barbara-deming-14719_bones_the-free-man-must-be-born-before-freedom_1902859.jpg" --- # The free man must be born before freedom can be won, and… ![“The free man must be born before freedom can be won, and the brotherly man must be born before full brotherhood can be won. It will come into being only if we build it out of our very muscle and bone - by trying to act it out.” quote by Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/barbara-deming-14719_bones_the-free-man-must-be-born-before-freedom_1902859.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/barbara-deming-14719_bones_the-free-man-must-be-born-before-freedom_1902859.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/barbara-deming-14719_bones_the-free-man-must-be-born-before-freedom_1902859.jpg) > “The free man must be born before freedom can be won, and the brotherly man must be born before full brotherhood can be won. It will come into being only if we build it out of our very muscle and bone - by trying to act it out.” [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom and brotherhood require personal embodiment and active effort, not abstract ideals. **In simple terms:** Freedom and brotherhood must be lived, not just spoken. Key Takeaway Live your values to create them. Themes freedom brotherhood activism personal responsibility Mood determined hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - community organizing - personal development - activist movements - educational workshops Key Concepts embodiment social contract collective action Questions to Reflect On - How can you embody freedom in daily actions? - What steps build true brotherhood? A Different Perspective Without genuine commitment, ideals remain empty rhetoric. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bones/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Born Brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-brotherhood-2819239/) [Born Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-freedom-2100641/) [Brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood/) [Brotherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherly/) [Brotherly Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherly-man-2819240/) [Free man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-man/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Muscles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muscles/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [“Who is born in freedom will not surrender his freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/who-is-born-in-freedom-will-not-surrender-his-freedom/) [sir kristian goldmund aumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/) > [A nation is born into freedom on the day when such a people, moulded into a nation by a process of cultural evolution and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diosdado-macapagal/a-nation-is-born-into-freedom-on-the-day-when-such-a-people-moulded/) [Diosdado Macapagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diosdado-macapagal/) > [We are born with freedom and hope, but often that's dashed because of our color. But in school, I'd already been taught that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-gossett-jr/we-are-born-with-freedom-and-hope-but-often-that-s-dashed-because-of/) [Louis Gossett, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-gossett-jr/) > [I never found religion, but was born with freedom That's the one thing I pray will not be takenð](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neon-hitch/i-never-found-religion-but-was-born-with-freedom-that-s-the-one-thing/) [Neon Hitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neon-hitch/) > [“I am a Filipino born to freedom, and I shall not rest until freedom shall have been added unto my inheritance—for myself and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-p-romulo/i-am-a-filipino-born-to-freedom-and-i-shall-not-rest-until-freedom/) [Carlos P. Romulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-p-romulo/) > [Because of this ever increasing discernment of the true Mason he/she will find more efficient ways to apply brotherly love, relief and truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/because-of-this-ever-increasing-discernment-of-the-true-mason-he-she/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [In Italy, for 30 years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/in-italy-for-30-years-under-the-borgias-they-had-warfare-terror/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [Brotherly love is still the distinguishing badge of every true Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/brotherly-love-is-still-the-distinguishing-badge-of-every-true/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Canadians are friends and Quebecers are my family. What France knows deep down is that within this great Canadian people, there is a Quebec…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-sarkozy/canadians-are-friends-and-quebecers-are-my-family-what-france-knows/) [Nicolas Sarkozy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-sarkozy/) > [It is indeed remarkable that the nature of our dealings with our fellowmen will determine, in large measure, our status in the kingdom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-petersen/it-is-indeed-remarkable-that-the-nature-of-our-dealings-with-our/) [Mark E. Petersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-petersen/) > [Nothing is more repugnant to me than brotherly feelings grounded in the common baseness people see in one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/nothing-is-more-repugnant-to-me-than-brotherly-feelings-grounded-in/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Henry David Thoreau, who never earned much of a living or sustained a relationship with any woman that wasn't brotherly -- who lived mostly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hoagland/henry-david-thoreau-who-never-earned-much-of-a-living-or-sustained-a/) [Edward Hoagland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hoagland/) > [I first start with weep with those who weep, rejoice with those who rejoice, be sympathetic, show tenderness and brotherly kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/i-first-start-with-weep-with-those-who-weep-rejoice-with-those-who/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [No man is a true believer unless he desireth for his brother that which he desireth for himself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad/no-man-is-a-true-believer-unless-he-desireth-for-his-brother-that/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad/) > [We must never lose sight of the fact that we must take part in the development, not only of ourselves but of all humanity...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/we-must-never-lose-sight-of-the-fact-that-we-must-take-part-in-the/) [Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/) ## More by Barbara Deming > [Nonviolent tactics can move into action on our behalf men not naturally inclined to act for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/nonviolent-tactics-can-move-into-action-on-our-behalf-men-not/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Our own pulse beats in every stranger's throat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/our-own-pulse-beats-in-every-stranger-s-throat/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [To resort to power one need not be violent, and to speak to conscience one need not be meek. The most effective action both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/to-resort-to-power-one-need-not-be-violent-and-to-speak-to-conscience/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [I think the only choice that will enable us to hold to our vision. . . is one that abandons the concept of naming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/i-think-the-only-choice-that-will-enable-us-to-hold-to-our-vision-is/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Nonviolent action does not have to get others to be nice. It can in effect force them to consult their consciences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/nonviolent-action-does-not-have-to-get-others-to-be-nice-it-can-in/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Think first of the action that is right to take, think later about coping with one's fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/think-first-of-the-action-that-is-right-to-take-think-later-about/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Surely all of us are nerved by one another, catch courage from one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/surely-all-of-us-are-nerved-by-one-another-catch-courage-from-one/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [We cannot live without our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/we-cannot-live-without-our-lives/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Let me be really here, here in this place and this time where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/let-me-be-really-here-here-in-this-place-and-this-time-where-i-am/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [The injunction that we should love our neighbors as ourselves means to us equally that we should love ourselves as we love our neighbors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/the-injunction-that-we-should-love-our-neighbors-as-ourselves-means/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Vengeance is not the point: change is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/vengeance-is-not-the-point-change-is/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [A liberation movement that is nonviolent sets the oppressor free as well as the oppressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/a-liberation-movement-that-is-nonviolent-sets-the-oppressor-free-as/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [People may find it more comfortable to listen to us if we equivocate, but in the long run only words that discomfort them are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/people-may-find-it-more-comfortable-to-listen-to-us-if-we-equivocate/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Our task, of course, is to transmute the anger that is affliction into the anger that is determination to bring about change. I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/our-task-of-course-is-to-transmute-the-anger-that-is-affliction-into/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [The point is to change one's life. The point is not to give some vent to the emotions that have been destroying one; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/the-point-is-to-change-one-s-life-the-point-is-not-to-give-some-vent/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) [Explore all 45 Barbara Deming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) ## More Bones quotes > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/may-nothing-entice-me-till-i-happily-make-my-way-to-jesus-christ-fire/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Surely, God could have caused birds to fly with their bones made of solid gold, with their veins full of quicksilver, with their flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/surely-god-could-have-caused-birds-to-fly-with-their-bones-made-of/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [“We are preaching hope, standing on the bones of the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rucyahana/we-are-preaching-hope-standing-on-the-bones-of-the-past/) [John Rucyahana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rucyahana/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [Flesh forgets. Bone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-bass/flesh-forgets-bone-remembers/) [Jefferson Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-bass/) > [One of my favorite poets, Neruda, writes close to the bone. Though I know only a little Spanish, I like to compare the Spanish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/one-of-my-favorite-poets-neruda-writes-close-to-the-bone-though-i/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [Death and burial were a public spectacle. Shakespeare may have seen for himself the gravediggers at St Ann's, Soho, playing skittles with skulls and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-arnold/death-and-burial-were-a-public-spectacle-shakespeare-may-have-seen/) [Catharine Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-arnold/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“All right, you deadly little ghostlings,” I muttered. “Mama says go back to bed! - Cat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/all-right-you-deadly-little-ghostlings-i-muttered-mama-says-go-back/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [“In December of 2007 human bones including skulls, which have been radiocarbon dated back to between 1304 and 1424, were found in a museum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/in-december-of-2007-human-bones-including-skulls-which-have-been/) [Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. 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