--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There can never be any real freedom on…" description: "\"“There can never be any real freedom on earth as long as people try to exert ownership over the natural resources of the world.”\" — Bryant McGill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/bryant-mcgill-108_freedom_there-can-never-be-any-real-freedom-on-e_2846421.jpg" --- # There can never be any real freedom on earth as long as… ![“There can never be any real freedom on earth as long as people try to exert ownership over the natural resources of the world.” quote by Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/bryant-mcgill-108_freedom_there-can-never-be-any-real-freedom-on-e_2846421.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/bryant-mcgill-108_freedom_there-can-never-be-any-real-freedom-on-e_2846421.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/bryant-mcgill-108_freedom_there-can-never-be-any-real-freedom-on-e_2846421.jpg) > ““There can never be any real freedom on earth as long as people try to exert ownership over the natural resources of the world.”” [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) ## 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 impossible while people claim ownership over shared natural resources, limiting collective well‑being. **In simple terms:** Ownership blocks freedom. Key Takeaway Promote shared stewardship. Themes environment justice freedom Mood concerned hopeful Type activist philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - community gardening - resource management - education programs Key Concepts commons theory sustainability Questions to Reflect On - What resources need collective care? - How can we shift ownership mindsets? A Different Perspective Economic interests often resist shared resource models. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Natural resources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-resources/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Ownership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ownership/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Real freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-freedom/) ## Related quotes > [In our time, in particular, there exists another form of ownership which is becoming no less important than land: the possession of know-how, technology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/in-our-time-in-particular-there-exists-another-form-of-ownership/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [ Our country \[America\] is still the strongest force for peace and freedom on earth. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/our-country-america-is-still-the-strongest-force-for-peace-and/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [He who did not taste Freedom on Earth, will not know it in Heaven!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-naimy/he-who-did-not-taste-freedom-on-earth-will-not-know-it-in-heaven/) [Mikhail Naimy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-naimy/) > [There is no freedom on earth or in any star for those who deny freedom to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/there-is-no-freedom-on-earth-or-in-any-star-for-those-who-deny/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [“Whatever is not working in your life is not God’s fault. It is your knowledge that is inadequate. You need your own license of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-oyedepo/whatever-is-not-working-in-your-life-is-not-god-s-fault-it-is-your/) [David O. Oyedepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-oyedepo/) > [“The natural resources of the world do not belong to any person, organization, collective, or so-called nation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-natural-resources-of-the-world-do-not-belong-to-any-person/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“All identification is for control and ownership.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/all-identification-is-for-control-and-ownership/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Ownership is yet another of the endless forms of arrogance engaged in by the lower self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/ownership-is-yet-another-of-the-endless-forms-of-arrogance-engaged-in/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Once a book falls into our possession, it is ours, the same way children lay their claim: 'That's my book.' As if it were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pennac/once-a-book-falls-into-our-possession-it-is-ours-the-same-way/) [Daniel Pennac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pennac/) > [“You would not believe what skill, power and ability your total intelligence possesses until you lose your balance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-would-not-believe-what-skill-power-and-ability-your-total/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Real freedom is having nothing. I was freer when I didn't have a cent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/real-freedom-is-having-nothing-i-was-freer-when-i-didn-t-have-a-cent/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [“Real freedom cannot exist alongside false freedom, but the abandonment of false freedom looks as if it would leave you as good as dead.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-wilson-watts/real-freedom-cannot-exist-alongside-false-freedom-but-the-abandonment/) [Alan Wilson Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-wilson-watts/) > [“Diversion consoles us - in trivial ways - in the face of our miseries or perplexities; yet, paradoxically, it becomes the worst of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-groothuis/diversion-consoles-us-in-trivial-ways-in-the-face-of-our-miseries-or/) [Douglas Groothuis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-groothuis/) > [ On the other hand \[making a string of one-off episodes\], there's a real freedom, because you're kind of reinventing the show every week. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/on-the-other-hand-making-a-string-of-one-off-episodes-there-s-a-real/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [“No truth is more pervasive in Scripture and Christian tradition than this one—that real freedom is found in obedience and servanthood. And yet no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-olson/no-truth-is-more-pervasive-in-scripture-and-christian-tradition-than/) Roger Olson ## More by Bryant McGill > [“Witnessing a selfless act brings tears to remind us how we should be treating others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/witnessing-a-selfless-act-brings-tears-to-remind-us-how-we-should-be/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“The teacher can only provide the lessons, but the student ultimately decides what to learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-teacher-can-only-provide-the-lessons-but-the-student-ultimately/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“You have permission to walk away from anything that doesn't feel right. Trust your instincts and listen to your inner-voice — it's trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-have-permission-to-walk-away-from-anything-that-doesn-t-feel/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“You cannot change another person's mind or educate them; this they must do themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-cannot-change-another-person-s-mind-or-educate-them-this-they/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“The public good must come before private interests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-public-good-must-come-before-private-interests/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Countries, states, cities, corporations and laws are all words on paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/countries-states-cities-corporations-and-laws-are-all-words-on-paper/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“We must remember that nature is the supreme cradle of life, and must be protected and treated with the highest respect and care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/we-must-remember-that-nature-is-the-supreme-cradle-of-life-and-must/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars and the selfish hide in high places. (p 57)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-world-is-not-fair-and-often-fools-cowards-liars-and-the-selfish/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Even discomfort or pain delivers awareness of life, and an opportunity for gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/even-discomfort-or-pain-delivers-awareness-of-life-and-an-opportunity/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“The secret to unseating great power, is not to move the other direction, but to compete directly against their goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-secret-to-unseating-great-power-is-not-to-move-the-other/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“In the moments of your deepest need, despair and desperation, what you need more than any other thing, is calm and faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/in-the-moments-of-your-deepest-need-despair-and-desperation-what-you/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“It is essential that you follow your own idea of passion, even if to others it looks like suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/it-is-essential-that-you-follow-your-own-idea-of-passion-even-if-to/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Joy is a practice, not an involuntary state.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/joy-is-a-practice-not-an-involuntary-state/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) [Explore all 1,286 Bryant McGill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. 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Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. 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