--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What were doctors, lawyers, scientists?…" description: "\"“What were doctors, lawyers, scientists? They were just men who allowed themselves to be deprived of their freedom to think and act as individuals.”\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/charles-bukowski-73_freedom_what-were-doctors-lawyers-scientists-the_415031.jpg" --- # What were doctors, lawyers, scientists? They were just men… ![“What were doctors, lawyers, scientists? They were just men who allowed themselves to be deprived of their freedom to think and act as individuals.” quote by Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/charles-bukowski-73_freedom_what-were-doctors-lawyers-scientists-the_415031.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/charles-bukowski-73_freedom_what-were-doctors-lawyers-scientists-the_415031.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/charles-bukowski-73_freedom_what-were-doctors-lawyers-scientists-the_415031.jpg) > ““What were doctors, lawyers, scientists? They were just men who allowed themselves to be deprived of their freedom to think and act as individuals.”” [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal roles can suppress individuality, leading professionals to lose independent thought and action. **In simple terms:** Professions can limit personal freedom. Key Takeaway Guard your independent thinking. Themes conformity individuality profession freedom Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace decisions - creative projects - political activism - personal relationships Key Concepts existentialism psychology social pressure Questions to Reflect On - How do you preserve autonomy in your role? - What pressures limit your independent thought? A Different Perspective Even in restrictive fields, some maintain autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allowed Deprived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowed-deprived-3691920/) [Deprived Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deprived-freedom-1199416/) [Doctors Lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors-lawyers-821105/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-think/) [Lawyers Scientists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyers-scientists-2934549/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [“Patent lawyers had only lately ascended to the aristocracy of the American bar. Trained not just as lawyers but as scientists or engineers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goldstein/patent-lawyers-had-only-lately-ascended-to-the-aristocracy-of-the/) [Paul Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goldstein/) > [Sexually deprived for your freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sexually-deprived-for-your-freedom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Socialism did not have anything particularly new to teach me; however, it provided me with the theory to verify what I already knew emotionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaneko-fumiko/socialism-did-not-have-anything-particularly-new-to-teach-me-however/) [Kaneko Fumiko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaneko-fumiko/) > [Any existence deprived of freedom is a kind of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gen-michel-aoun/any-existence-deprived-of-freedom-is-a-kind-of-death/) [Gen Michel Aoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gen-michel-aoun/) > [Money is coined liberty, and so it is ten times dearer to a man who is deprived of freedom. If money is jingling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/money-is-coined-liberty-and-so-it-is-ten-times-dearer-to-a-man-who-is/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [I am a witness to nations and people deprived of their freedom. I was there. I watched that great Iron Curtain drop around nations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/i-am-a-witness-to-nations-and-people-deprived-of-their-freedom-i-was/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [I don't think a lot of people are calling me to play doctors and lawyers, which is fine with me. I can put a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/i-don-t-think-a-lot-of-people-are-calling-me-to-play-doctors-and/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [My family are not sporty - they are all doctors or lawyers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-bartoli/my-family-are-not-sporty-they-are-all-doctors-or-lawyers/) [Marion Bartoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-bartoli/) > [And there's doctors and lawyers, And business executives, And they're all made out of ticky tacky And they all look just the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malvina-reynolds/and-there-s-doctors-and-lawyers-and-business-executives-and-they-re/) [Malvina Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malvina-reynolds/) > [We have doctors and lawyers and CEOs as fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-van-zant/we-have-doctors-and-lawyers-and-ceos-as-fans/) [Johnny Van Zant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-van-zant/) > [“They say you should never hide anything from your doctors and lawyers. Hiding from a doctor could lead your way to heaven (or hell).…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shikha-kaul/they-say-you-should-never-hide-anything-from-your-doctors-and-lawyers/) [Shikha Kaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shikha-kaul/) > [Doctors and lawyers must go to school for years and years, often with little sleep and with great sacrifice to their first wives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blount-jr/doctors-and-lawyers-must-go-to-school-for-years-and-years-often-with/) [Roy Blount, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blount-jr/) > [Most writers are middle-class and are the children of doctors or lawyers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/most-writers-are-middle-class-and-are-the-children-of-doctors-or/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“Shabelsky: Doctors are the same as lawyers, the sole difference being that lawyers only rob you, but doctors rob you and kill you too...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/shabelsky-doctors-are-the-same-as-lawyers-the-sole-difference-being/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [The only difference between doctors and lawyers is that lawyers merely rob you, whereas doctors rob you and kill you, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/the-only-difference-between-doctors-and-lawyers-is-that-lawyers/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) ## More by Charles Bukowski > [“sometimes when everything seems at its worst when all conspires and gnaws and the hours, days, weeks years seem wasted – stretched there upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/sometimes-when-everything-seems-at-its-worst-when-all-conspires-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [well, death says, as he walks by, I'm going to get you anyhow no matter what you've been: writer, cab-driver, pimp, butcher, sky-diver, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/well-death-says-as-he-walks-by-i-m-going-to-get-you-anyhow-no-matter/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“There is only one place to write and that is alone at a typewriter. A writer who has to go into the streets is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/there-is-only-one-place-to-write-and-that-is-alone-at-a-typewriter-a/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“nerves twitching in the sheets -- to face the sunlight again, that's clearly trouble. I like the city better when the neon lights are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/nerves-twitching-in-the-sheets-to-face-the-sunlight-again-that-s/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Their Love Is Average, Seeks Average But There Is Genius In Their Hatred”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/their-love-is-average-seeks-average-but-there-is-genius-in-their/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I climbed the stairway (there was no elevator) and put the key in. The door swung open. Somebody had changed all the furniture around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-climbed-the-stairway-there-was-no-elevator-and-put-the-key-in-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Strangers when you meet, strangers when you part -a gymnasium of bodies namelessly masturbating each other. People with no morals often considered themselves more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/strangers-when-you-meet-strangers-when-you-part-a-gymnasium-of-bodies/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I like to change liquor stores frequently because the clerks got to know your habits if you went in night and day and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-like-to-change-liquor-stores-frequently-because-the-clerks-got-to/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I was like a turd that drew flies instead of like a flower that butterflies and bees desired. I wanted to live alone,I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-was-like-a-turd-that-drew-flies-instead-of-like-a-flower-that/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [It's 4:30 in the morning, it's always 4:30 in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/it-s-4-30-in-the-morning-it-s-always-4-30-in-the-morning/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I had no feeling for the things so many others needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-had-no-feeling-for-the-things-so-many-others-needed/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I am sick with caring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-am-sick-with-caring/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I went home each night dizzy and sick. He was murdering me with the sound of his voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-went-home-each-night-dizzy-and-sick-he-was-murdering-me-with-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“the nights you fight best are when all the weapons are pointed at you, when all the voices hurl their insults while the dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-nights-you-fight-best-are-when-all-the-weapons-are-pointed-at-you/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) [Explore all 1,492 Charles Bukowski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) ## 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": "“What were doctors, lawyers, scientists? They were just men who allowed themselves to be deprived of their freedom to think and act as individuals.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Bukowski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/what-were-doctors-lawyers-scientists-they-were-just-men-who-allowed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Freedom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/what-were-doctors-lawyers-scientists-they-were-just-men-who-allowed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/charles-bukowski-73_freedom_what-were-doctors-lawyers-scientists-the_415031.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/charles-bukowski-73_freedom_what-were-doctors-lawyers-scientists-the_415031.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/charles-bukowski-73_freedom_what-were-doctors-lawyers-scientists-the_415031.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What were doctors, lawyers, scientists? They were just men who allowed themselves to be deprived of their…” — Charles Bukowski", "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": "Charles Bukowski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What were doctors, lawyers, scientists? They...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/what-were-doctors-lawyers-scientists-they-were-just-men-who-allowed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/what-were-doctors-lawyers-scientists-they-were-just-men-who-allowed/#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 } } ] } ```