--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To really belong, we have got, first, to…" description: "\"To really belong, we have got, first, to get it clear with ourselves that we do not belong and do not want to belong to an unfree world. As free men an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/c-wright-mills-9475_belong_to-really-belong-we-have-got-first-to-ge_2333307.jpg" --- # To really belong, we have got, first, to get it clear with… ![“To really belong, we have got, first, to get it clear with ourselves that we do not belong and do not want to belong to an unfree world. As free men and women we have got to reject much of it and to know why we are rejecting it.” quote by C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/c-wright-mills-9475_belong_to-really-belong-we-have-got-first-to-ge_2333307.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/c-wright-mills-9475_belong_to-really-belong-we-have-got-first-to-ge_2333307.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/c-wright-mills-9475_belong_to-really-belong-we-have-got-first-to-ge_2333307.jpg) > “To really belong, we have got, first, to get it clear with ourselves that we do not belong and do not want to belong to an unfree world. As free men and women we have got to reject much of it and to know why we are rejecting it.” [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. To belong, one must first acknowledge they do not belong to an unfree world, then reject it deliberately. **In simple terms:** Recognize non‑belonging to reject oppression. Key Takeaway Reject oppression consciously. Themes freedom identity politics self‑awareness Mood reflective provocative Type philosophical political When to use this quote - activism - personal reflection - community building Key Concepts alienation social critique Questions to Reflect On - What does “unfree world” mean today? - How can individuals act on this rejection? A Different Perspective May ignore complexities of belonging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belong/) [Belong Unfree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belong-unfree-5620085/) [Belong Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belong-want-297434/) [Belonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belonging/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Free man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-man/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Really Belong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-belong-703970/) [Rejecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejecting/) [Rejects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejects/) [Unfree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfree/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Belong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-belong-297432/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I think what hurts the most is that I just really want to belong. I want to stand inside the circle of other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-what-hurts-the-most-is-that-i-just-really-want-to-belong-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You belong wherever you want to belong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/you-belong-wherever-you-want-to-belong/) [Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/) > [You want to belong, you want to be here. In interactions with others you're constantly waiting to see that they recognize that you're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-rankine/you-want-to-belong-you-want-to-be-here-in-interactions-with-others/) [Claudia Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-rankine/) > [“I’m every woman’s adventure, damn you, and I don’t want to be yours. I want to be your fucking REAL. You get that? If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-evans/i-m-every-woman-s-adventure-damn-you-and-i-don-t-want-to-be-yours-i-3/) [Katy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-evans/) > [Today I want to belong. I want to feel safe and at home. I want to be aware of what it is like simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/today-i-want-to-belong-i-want-to-feel-safe-and-at-home-i-want-to-be/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“I'm every woman's adventure, damn you, and I don't want to be yours. I want to be your fucking REAL. You get that? If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-evans/i-m-every-woman-s-adventure-damn-you-and-i-don-t-want-to-be-yours-i-2/) [Katy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-evans/) > [“I want to belong to you, and I want you to belong to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nely-cab/i-want-to-belong-to-you-and-i-want-you-to-belong-to-me/) [Nely Cab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nely-cab/) > [“I want to belong with someone. I want to feel at the center of something, and not the edge. I want children and grandchildren.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/i-want-to-belong-with-someone-i-want-to-feel-at-the-center-of/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [The point is that we are among those who cannot get their mouths around all the little Yeses that add up to tacit acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/the-point-is-that-we-are-among-those-who-cannot-get-their-mouths/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [“Why’d you want to have sex with me? To have a f\*cking adventure? What was I supposed to be? Your one-night-f\*cking stand? I’m every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-evans/why-d-you-want-to-have-sex-with-me-to-have-a-f-cking-adventure-what/) [Katy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-evans/) > [“Dress you? I'd rather undress you. We don't belong together. But you belong to me. I want you not as you might be. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathleen-schine/dress-you-i-d-rather-undress-you-we-don-t-belong-together-but-you/) [Cathleen Schine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathleen-schine/) > [I belong wherever I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-belong-wherever-i-want-to-be/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [You're still the one I run to, the one that I belong to, you're still the one I want for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/you-re-still-the-one-i-run-to-the-one-that-i-belong-to-you-re-still/) [Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/) > [There are only a few things that truly belong to me: Who I am, who I was, and who I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/there-are-only-a-few-things-that-truly-belong-to-me-who-i-am-who-i/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [I belong to you. There is no one else. All I want is to be where you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammara-webber/i-belong-to-you-there-is-no-one-else-all-i-want-is-to-be-where-you-are/) [Tammara Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammara-webber/) ## More by C. Wright Mills > [As a social and as a personal force, religion has become a dependent variable. It does not originate; it reacts. It does not denounce;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/as-a-social-and-as-a-personal-force-religion-has-become-a-dependent/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [Every revolution has its counterrevolution - that is a sign the revolution is for real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/every-revolution-has-its-counterrevolution-that-is-a-sign-the/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [For the first time in American history, men in authority are talking about an 'emergency' without a foreseeable end... such men as these are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/for-the-first-time-in-american-history-men-in-authority-are-talking/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [Prestige is the shadow of money and power. Where these are, there it is. Like the national market for soap or automobiles and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/prestige-is-the-shadow-of-money-and-power-where-these-are-there-it-is/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [America is a nation with no truly national city, no Paris, no Rome, no London, no city which is at once the social center,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/america-is-a-nation-with-no-truly-national-city-no-paris-no-rome-no/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [What we experience in various and specific milieux, I have noted, is often caused by structural changes. Accordingly, to understand the changes of many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/what-we-experience-in-various-and-specific-milieux-i-have-noted-is/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [The nearest the modern general or admiral comes to a small-arms encounter of any sort is at a duck hunt in the company of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/the-nearest-the-modern-general-or-admiral-comes-to-a-small-arms/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [IBM Plus Reality Plus Humanism = Sociology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/ibm-plus-reality-plus-humanism-sociology/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [You can never really understand an individual unless you also understand the society,historical time period in which they live,personal troubles, and social issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/you-can-never-really-understand-an-individual-unless-you-also/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [Fate has to do with events in history that are the summary and unintended results of innumerable decisions of innumerable men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/fate-has-to-do-with-events-in-history-that-are-the-summary-and/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [Whatever sociology may be, it is the result of constantly asking the question, what is the meaning of this?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/whatever-sociology-may-be-it-is-the-result-of-constantly-asking-the/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [The mass production of distraction is now as much a part of the American way of life as the mass production of automobiles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/the-mass-production-of-distraction-is-now-as-much-a-part-of-the/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [If we accept the Greek's definition of the idiot as an altogether private man, then we must conclude that many American citizens are now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/if-we-accept-the-greek-s-definition-of-the-idiot-as-an-altogether/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [Seldom aware of the intricate connection between the patterns of their own lives and the course of world history, ordinary people do not usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/seldom-aware-of-the-intricate-connection-between-the-patterns-of/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/neither-the-life-of-an-individual-nor-the-history-of-a-society-can-be/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) [Explore all 70 C. Wright Mills quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) ## More Belong quotes > [How come I end up where I started How come I end up where I belong... You used to be alright What happened?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/how-come-i-end-up-where-i-started-how-come-i-end-up-where-i-belong/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I hate this feeling. Like Im here. But, Im not. Like someone cares. But, they dont. Like I belong somewhere else, anywhere but here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-this-feeling-like-im-here-but-im-not-like-someone-cares-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As you know, in America there's no rights for the artist, so whatever films I've made kind of belong to the studio, so if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/as-you-know-in-america-there-s-no-rights-for-the-artist-so-whatever/) [Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/) > [“When the time comes, everybody’s got to end up where they belong. Only me, I didn’t have a place to call my own. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-the-time-comes-everybody-s-got-to-end-up-where-they-belong-only/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [God has a purpose for us. If he didn't we wouldn't be alive in the first place. We have a calling. We are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-janssen/god-has-a-purpose-for-us-if-he-didn-t-we-wouldn-t-be-alive-in-the/) [Kenny Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-janssen/) > [I thought of how many places there are in the world that belong in this way to someone, who has it in his blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/i-thought-of-how-many-places-there-are-in-the-world-that-belong-in/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [I belong to a Bohri Muslim family, and for us, food is our biggest celebration. We are used to elaborate five- to six-course meals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nushrat-bharucha/i-belong-to-a-bohri-muslim-family-and-for-us-food-is-our-biggest/) [Nushrat Bharucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nushrat-bharucha/) > [“You need to belong to yourself, and let others belong to themselves too. You need to be free and detached from things and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-eriksson/you-need-to-belong-to-yourself-and-let-others-belong-to-themselves/) [Charlotte Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-eriksson/) > [I want all of my films to belong to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-want-all-of-my-films-to-belong-to-me/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [“Your beliefs, and your beliefs alone, belong to you. You are the only one who is with you for your entire life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz-jr/your-beliefs-and-your-beliefs-alone-belong-to-you-you-are-the-only/) [Miguel Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz-jr/) > [Earth does not belong to us; we belong to earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-seattle/earth-does-not-belong-to-us-we-belong-to-earth/) [Chief Seattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-seattle/) > [I think I know where you belong. I think I know its not with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-i-know-where-you-belong-i-think-i-know-its-not-with-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's a compelling reason why I belong in the Hall of Fame, but I understand the argument against me. My career didn't go like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-warner/there-s-a-compelling-reason-why-i-belong-in-the-hall-of-fame-but-i/) [Kurt Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-warner/) [Browse all 1,571 Belong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belong/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To really belong, we have got, first, to get it clear with ourselves that we do not belong and do not want to belong to an unfree world. As free men and women we have got to reject much of it and to know why we are rejecting it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C. 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