--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He had maintained from the beginning that…" description: "\"“He had maintained from the beginning that he had wanted only his freedom. And that was exactly what he had been given. ‘I always meant to leave,’ he s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/c-s-pacat-628_freedom_he-had-maintained-from-the-beginning-tha_1625226.jpg" --- # He had maintained from the beginning that he had wanted… ![“He had maintained from the beginning that he had wanted only his freedom. And that was exactly what he had been given. ‘I always meant to leave,’ he said. He” quote by C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/c-s-pacat-628_freedom_he-had-maintained-from-the-beginning-tha_1625226.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/c-s-pacat-628_freedom_he-had-maintained-from-the-beginning-tha_1625226.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/c-s-pacat-628_freedom_he-had-maintained-from-the-beginning-tha_1625226.jpg) > ““He had maintained from the beginning that he had wanted only his freedom. And that was exactly what he had been given. ‘I always meant to leave,’ he said. He”” [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character asserts that his sole desire was freedom, which he ultimately receives, highlighting personal agency and destiny. **In simple terms:** He wanted freedom and got it. Key Takeaway Value personal freedom. Themes freedom agency destiny Mood reflective determined Type literary character When to use this quote - career decisions - personal relationships - political negotiations Key Concepts self‑determination choice Questions to Reflect On - What does freedom mean to you? - How do you balance personal desire with responsibility? A Different Perspective Freedom may be limited by external constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Exactly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-exactly-326028/) [Maintained Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maintained-beginning-326029/) [Meant Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meant-leave-326030/) [Wanted Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-freedom-326027/) ## Related quotes > [To my mind, what we ought to have maintained from the beginning was the strictest neutrality. If we had done this, I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-norris/to-my-mind-what-we-ought-to-have-maintained-from-the-beginning-was/) [George William Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-norris/) > [“You see then, that Diatribe truly possesses a free choice in her handling of Scriptures, so that words of one and the same type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/you-see-then-that-diatribe-truly-possesses-a-free-choice-in-her/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [I'm in control of my musical career, which means more than awards and record sales. And that freedom is exactly what my dad fought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shooter-jennings/i-m-in-control-of-my-musical-career-which-means-more-than-awards-and/) [Shooter Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shooter-jennings/) > [That non-attachment gives us the freedom to be exactly who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/that-non-attachment-gives-us-the-freedom-to-be-exactly-who-we-are/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [“Somehow I knew that puppies were meant to leave their mothers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/somehow-i-knew-that-puppies-were-meant-to-leave-their-mothers/) [W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/) > [If it wasnt meant to be, than it wasnt meant to be. Leave that person alone and move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-it-wasnt-meant-to-be-than-it-wasnt-meant-to-be-leave-that-person/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Men were not meant to leave the earth. Spend too much time in the clouds and you never want to come back down again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/men-were-not-meant-to-leave-the-earth-spend-too-much-time-in-the/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“i had not meant to leave them; i had only meant to leave. i wasnt running away from them; i was only running away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-had-not-meant-to-leave-them-i-had-only-meant-to-leave-i-wasnt/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“We're all stronger than we know, and we're all meant to leave a legacy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/we-re-all-stronger-than-we-know-and-we-re-all-meant-to-leave-a-legacy/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [“Liberated from Saturn, from the order that for years had kept us in line, our narrative organized and mindful of the conventions of story.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-plascencia/liberated-from-saturn-from-the-order-that-for-years-had-kept-us-in/) [Salvador Plascencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-plascencia/) > [I never thought I would get remarried, I love golf too much. I wanted the freedom to play whenever I'm not broadcasting. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-buck/i-never-thought-i-would-get-remarried-i-love-golf-too-much-i-wanted/) [Joe Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-buck/) > [We wanted the freedom to love. We wanted the freedom to choose. Now we have to fight for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/we-wanted-the-freedom-to-love-we-wanted-the-freedom-to-choose-now-we/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [When I was 10 and 11, my dream was to be a boy. I saw that there were so many injustices that women had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimouna-doucoure/when-i-was-10-and-11-my-dream-was-to-be-a-boy-i-saw-that-there-were/) [Maimouna Doucoure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimouna-doucoure/) > [“Life is a beautiful journey, full of joy and pain You never know when it will end, don’t let a moment pass in vain……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehek-bassi/life-is-a-beautiful-journey-full-of-joy-and-pain-you-never-know-when/) [Mehek Bassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehek-bassi/) > [I wanted to find something I was passionate about, something with the possibility of upward movement, and I wanted freedom. I need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-olivieri/i-wanted-to-find-something-i-was-passionate-about-something-with-the/) [Dawn Olivieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-olivieri/) ## More by C.S. Pacat > [“Not everyone could have the blissful equanimity of Lamen, who seemed to pay the Prince no deference of rank, a piece of very good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/not-everyone-could-have-the-blissful-equanimity-of-lamen-who-seemed/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“The ache of loss didn’t make sense, because Laurent had never been his. He had known that. The delicate thing that had grown between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/the-ache-of-loss-didn-t-make-sense-because-laurent-had-never-been-his/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“His hands slid impotently down Laurent’s tight-laced clothing. Beneath him, Laurent’s kisses were all open-mouthed. Desire flamed, painful and bright. It”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/his-hands-slid-impotently-down-laurent-s-tight-laced-clothing-beneath/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“He let his lips form a half-smile. ‘You aren’t going to offer me one of your gaudy Veretian handkerchiefs?’ ‘You could use the clothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/he-let-his-lips-form-a-half-smile-you-aren-t-going-to-offer-me-one-of/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“My uncle plans everything,’ said Laurent, as though reading Damen’s thoughts. ‘He plans for victory and he plans for defeat. It was you who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/my-uncle-plans-everything-said-laurent-as-though-reading-damen-s/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“You want to hear the truth about my uncle? I’ll tell you,’ said Laurent, a new light in his eyes. ‘I’ll tell you what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/you-want-to-hear-the-truth-about-my-uncle-i-ll-tell-you-said-laurent/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“I would court you, with all the grace and courtesy that you deserve,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-would-court-you-with-all-the-grace-and-courtesy-that-you-deserve/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“Instead of leaning in, Damen took Laurent’s hand, brought it towards himself, and kissed his palm, once.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/instead-of-leaning-in-damen-took-laurent-s-hand-brought-it-towards/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“Laurent, he realised, had guarded his solitude for him. And his people, fearing the fierce, strange foreign prince, had done as Laurent ordered, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/laurent-he-realised-had-guarded-his-solitude-for-him-and-his-people/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“I’m not your slave,’ said Damen. ‘I’m a man.’ Don’t”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-m-not-your-slave-said-damen-i-m-a-man-don-t/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“Stirring drowsily, Laurent shifted a fraction closer and made a soft, unthinking sound of pleasure that Damen was going to remember for the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/stirring-drowsily-laurent-shifted-a-fraction-closer-and-made-a-soft/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“You are too quick to pledge yourself to me.’ He felt the hard, bright edges of the pin in his fist. ‘You are my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/you-are-too-quick-to-pledge-yourself-to-me-he-felt-the-hard-bright/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“Dear Charls. Whatever will you do with your own Kemptian silk? It will spoil on the road.’ ‘We aren’t carrying any Kemptian silk,’ said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/dear-charls-whatever-will-you-do-with-your-own-kemptian-silk-it-will/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“What changed your mind?” Damen said, carefully. Laurent didn’t answer him, just looked at him with hostility. “Don’t speak, unless you’re asked a question.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/what-changed-your-mind-damen-said-carefully-laurent-didn-t-answer-him/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“A fourth son, thought Damen, waiting for someone to notice him. When he wasn’t trying to please, he was baiting authority, as though negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/a-fourth-son-thought-damen-waiting-for-someone-to-notice-him-when-he/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) [Explore all 438 C.S. Pacat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) ## 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. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. 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. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He had maintained from the beginning that he had wanted only his freedom. And that was exactly what he had been given. ‘I always meant to leave,’ he said. He”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C.S. 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