--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These observations bring out the fact…" description: "\"“These observations bring out the fact that, whenever liberty is regarded merely as the power to do something which it is desired to do, the tyrant nee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/bertrand-de-jouvenel-20688_every-man_these-observations-bring-out-the-fact-th_1712254.png" --- # These observations bring out the fact that, whenever… ![“These observations bring out the fact that, whenever liberty is regarded merely as the power to do something which it is desired to do, the tyrant need only base himself on the desires of the masses to suppress the liberties cherished by a few. But can anyone fail to see that the very concrete…” quote by Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/bertrand-de-jouvenel-20688_every-man_these-observations-bring-out-the-fact-th_1712254.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/bertrand-de-jouvenel-20688_every-man_these-observations-bring-out-the-fact-th_1712254.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/bertrand-de-jouvenel-20688_every-man_these-observations-bring-out-the-fact-th_1712254.png) > ““These observations bring out the fact that, whenever liberty is regarded merely as the power to do something which it is desired to do, the tyrant need only base himself on the desires of the masses to suppress the liberties cherished by a few. But can anyone fail to see that the very concrete problem here posed is the problem of the sation of satisfactions, and not the problem of liberty at all? How, then, has it come about that we have drifted away from what we were discussing? This is the very definition of liberty which we allowed as our starting-point. Its development makes it clear that the thing discussed does not merit the fair name of liberty. It is certain that every man desires addition to his power and chafes at the obstacles which stand in his way; it is also certain that the quest for a power which is wider binds him to a growing dependence on other men; it is certain, lastly, that this dependence creates a growing tendency to quarrel about distribution. All that is important, but it is the story not of liberty but of human imperialism. And whoever thinks to see the essence of liberty in the power of man is is utterly lacking in any true feeling for liberty.”” [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Liberty is misdefined when equated with fulfilling mass desires; true freedom is undermined by power accumulation and dependence, leading to imperialism rather than liberty. **In simple terms:** Freedom is not just satisfying popular wishes; it’s about limiting power and dependence. Key Takeaway Recognize and limit power structures that masquerade as liberty. Themes freedom power imperialism human nature Mood critical reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government policy - activist movements - corporate governance - community organizing Key Concepts political philosophy social contract dependency theory Questions to Reflect On - What power structures in your life claim to protect liberty? - How can societies balance individual desires with collective freedom? A Different Perspective The argument assumes a single definition of liberty, overlooking cultural variations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Definition Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition-liberty-1258072/) [Every man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) [Feeling Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-liberty-1258071/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Liberty Regarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty-regarded-899631/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Problem Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-liberty-1005617/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that my theory is correct; for whatever be the question upon which I am arguing, whether it be religious, philosophical, political, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/i-believe-that-my-theory-is-correct-for-whatever-be-the-question-upon/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [I would define liberty to be a power to do as we would be done by. The definition of liberty to be the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-would-define-liberty-to-be-a-power-to-do-as-we-would-be-done-by-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“And then, however limited his sphere, he still preserves in his bosom the sweet feeling of liberty, and knows that he can quit his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-william-eliot/and-then-however-limited-his-sphere-he-still-preserves-in-his-bosom/) [Charles William Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-william-eliot/) > [“I have the feeling, Liberty, that you're hoping for someone to give you permission to do what you want to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-have-the-feeling-liberty-that-you-re-hoping-for-someone-to-give-you/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [A useful definition of liberty is obtained only by seeking the principle of liberty in the main business of human life, that is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-useful-definition-of-liberty-is-obtained-only-by-seeking-the/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [“Hence, likewise, they will avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments, which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/hence-likewise-they-will-avoid-the-necessity-of-those-overgrown/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“...overgrown military establishments, which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/overgrown-military-establishments-which-under-any-form-of-government/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/over-grown-military-establishments-are-under-any-form-of-government/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“at whatever point of the scientific horizon I start from, I invariably come to the same thing—the solution of the social problem is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/at-whatever-point-of-the-scientific-horizon-i-start-from-i-invariably/) [Frédéric Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [The solution of the social problem is in liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-solution-of-the-social-problem-is-in-liberty/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [In the American colonies, the main problem of liberty has been solved, demonstrated and practiced in such a manner as not to leave much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/in-the-american-colonies-the-main-problem-of-liberty-has-been-solved/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [Let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the character of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-every-man-remember-that-to-violate-the-law-is-to-trample-on-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us leave every man at liberty to seek into him and to lose himself in his ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/let-us-leave-every-man-at-liberty-to-seek-into-him-and-to-lose/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Every man who expresses an honest thought is a soldier in the army of intellectual liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/every-man-who-expresses-an-honest-thought-is-a-soldier-in-the-army-of/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) ## More by Bertrand De Jouvenel > [But there are no institutions on earth which enable each separate person to have a hand in the exercise of Power, for Power is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/but-there-are-no-institutions-on-earth-which-enable-each-separate/) [Bertrand de Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [It is appropriate here to recall that the so-called Dark Ages began with the flight of the individuals into the protection of lords or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/it-is-appropriate-here-to-recall-that-the-so-called-dark-ages-began/) [Bertrand de Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“As every advance of Power is useful for war, so war is useful for the advance of power; war is like a sheep-dog harrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/as-every-advance-of-power-is-useful-for-war-so-war-is-useful-for-the/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“The modern absolutism, which we find the most natural thing in the world, would have been quite beyond the dreams of the most absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/the-modern-absolutism-which-we-find-the-most-natural-thing-in-the/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [Ransack the history of revolutions, and it will be found that every fall of a regime has been presaged by a defiance which went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/ransack-the-history-of-revolutions-and-it-will-be-found-that-every/) [Bertrand de Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“The man who has dedicated himself to the success of the protect, the master builder, no longer has any freedom: his conduct is now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/the-man-who-has-dedicated-himself-to-the-success-of-the-protect-the/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“The entire stock of relationships which suited in war—militiae—was regarded as inadmissible and improper in peace—domi. We have the measure of how right the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/the-entire-stock-of-relationships-which-suited-in-war-militiae-was/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“Power changes its appearance but not its reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/power-changes-its-appearance-but-not-its-reality/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“Historians of the sentimental school have sometimes regretted that royalty became absolute, while at the same time rejoicing that it installed plebeians in office.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/historians-of-the-sentimental-school-have-sometimes-regretted-that/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“The idea so commonly found that scepticism leads to toleration arises from considering the effects of scepticism in the intellectual who takes no active…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/the-idea-so-commonly-found-that-scepticism-leads-to-toleration-arises/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“Power is linked with war, and a society wishing to limit war's ravages can find no other way than by limiting the scope of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/power-is-linked-with-war-and-a-society-wishing-to-limit-war-s-ravages/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“Rejoicing in his absolute authority, the single egoist will exploit it methodically, whereas a mêlée of egoists will bring about a ruinous disorder and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/rejoicing-in-his-absolute-authority-the-single-egoist-will-exploit-it/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [For, once man is declared 'the measure of all things,' there is no longer a true, or a good, or a just, but only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/for-once-man-is-declared-the-measure-of-all-things-there-is-no-longer/) [Bertrand de Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [Barbarian invasions would be superfluous: We are our own Huns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/barbarian-invasions-would-be-superfluous-we-are-our-own-huns/) [Bertrand de Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“Where will it all end? In the destruction of all other command for the benefit of one alone - that of the state. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/where-will-it-all-end-in-the-destruction-of-all-other-command-for-the/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) [Explore all 30 Bertrand De Jouvenel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) ## More Every man quotes > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Every man has his secret sadness and sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-man-has-his-secret-sadness-and-sorrows-which-the-world-knows/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“The old intergenerational give-and-take of the country-that-used-to-be, when everyone knew his role and took the rules dead seriously, the acculturating back-and-forth that all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-old-intergenerational-give-and-take-of-the-country-that-used-to/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Every man must wear out at least one pair of fools shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-derr-biggers/every-man-must-wear-out-at-least-one-pair-of-fools-shoes/) [Earl Derr Biggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-derr-biggers/) > [Every man who is high up likes to think that he has done it all himself, and the wife smiles and lets it go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-man-who-is-high-up-likes-to-think-that-he-has-done-it-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every man remembers his childhood as a kind of mythical age, just as every nation's childhood is its mythical age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/every-man-remembers-his-childhood-as-a-kind-of-mythical-age-just-as/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [All religions must be tolerated for every man must get to heaven in his own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-religions-must-be-tolerated-for-every-man-must-get-to-heaven-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“China reminds me most of America at its own moment of transformation—the period that Mark Twain and Charles Warner named the Gilded Age, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-osnos/china-reminds-me-most-of-america-at-its-own-moment-of-transformation/) [Evan Osnos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-osnos/) > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [“John, let me make one thing clear,” Jim said, cutting me off in his most stern, evangelical voice. “Every man is blessed with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/john-let-me-make-one-thing-clear-jim-said-cutting-me-off-in-his-most/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [Every man's heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe a final breath. And if what that man did in his life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-ultimate-warrior/every-man-s-heart-one-day-beats-its-final-beat-his-lungs-breathe-a/) [The Ultimate Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-ultimate-warrior/) [Browse all 3,342 Every man quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“These observations bring out the fact that, whenever liberty is regarded merely as the power to do something which it is desired to do, the tyrant need only base himself on the desires of the masses to suppress the liberties cherished by a few. But can anyone fail to see that the very concrete problem here posed is the problem of the sation of satisfactions, and not the problem of liberty at all? How, then, has it come about that we have drifted away from what we were discussing? This is the very definition of liberty which we allowed as our starting-point. Its development makes it clear that the thing discussed does not merit the fair name of liberty. It is certain that every man desires addition to his power and chafes at the obstacles which stand in his way; it is also certain that the quest for a power which is wider binds him to a growing dependence on other men; it is certain, lastly, that this dependence creates a growing tendency to quarrel about distribution. All that is important, but it is the story not of liberty but of human imperialism. And whoever thinks to see the essence of liberty in the power of man is is utterly lacking in any true feeling for liberty.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bertrand De Jouvenel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/these-observations-bring-out-the-fact-that-whenever-liberty-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Every man" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/these-observations-bring-out-the-fact-that-whenever-liberty-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/bertrand-de-jouvenel-20688_every-man_these-observations-bring-out-the-fact-th_1712254.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/bertrand-de-jouvenel-20688_every-man_these-observations-bring-out-the-fact-th_1712254.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/bertrand-de-jouvenel-20688_every-man_these-observations-bring-out-the-fact-th_1712254.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“These observations bring out the fact that, whenever liberty is regarded merely as the power to do something…” — Bertrand De Jouvenel", "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": "Bertrand De Jouvenel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“These observations bring out the fact...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/these-observations-bring-out-the-fact-that-whenever-liberty-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/these-observations-bring-out-the-fact-that-whenever-liberty-is/#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 } } ] } ```