--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My grandfather was a man, when he talked…" description: "\"My grandfather was a man, when he talked about freedom, his attitude was really interesting. His view was that you had obligations or you had responsib..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/clarence-thomas-7661_attitude_my-grandfather-was-a-man-when-he-talked_2239129.jpg" --- # My grandfather was a man, when he talked about freedom… ![“My grandfather was a man, when he talked about freedom, his attitude was really interesting. His view was that you had obligations or you had responsibilities, and when you fulfilled those obligations or responsibilities, that then gave you the liberty to do other things. So the freedoms that we…” quote by Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/clarence-thomas-7661_attitude_my-grandfather-was-a-man-when-he-talked_2239129.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/clarence-thomas-7661_attitude_my-grandfather-was-a-man-when-he-talked_2239129.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/clarence-thomas-7661_attitude_my-grandfather-was-a-man-when-he-talked_2239129.jpg) > “My grandfather was a man, when he talked about freedom, his attitude was really interesting. His view was that you had obligations or you had responsibilities, and when you fulfilled those obligations or responsibilities, that then gave you the liberty to do other things. So the freedoms that we talk about today, the liberties that we talk about today were the benefits that you got from discharging your responsibilities.” [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fulfilling duties creates true freedom; liberty follows responsibility. **In simple terms:** Responsibility leads to liberty. Key Takeaway Do your duties to earn freedom. Themes freedom responsibility ethics Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - public office - community service - family obligations Key Concepts civic duty personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do you prioritize? - How does duty shape personal liberty? A Different Perspective Neglecting responsibilities can erode freedoms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Benefits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-attitude-676148/) [Freedoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedoms/) [Freedoms Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedoms-talk-5068093/) [Fulfilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfilled/) [Grandfather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandfather/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [My grandfather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-grandfather/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Really interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-interesting/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Talked Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talked-freedom-676149/) [Things Freedoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-freedoms-4570543/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) ## Related quotes > [My grandfather was a man, when he talked about freedom, his attitude was really interesting. His view was that you had obligations or you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/my-grandfather-was-a-man-when-he-talked-about-freedom-his-attitude/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [“America wasn’t perfect, but nothing touched by human hands could be. There was greed, corruption, selfishness, pettiness, hatred. But there were good things too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wildbow/america-wasn-t-perfect-but-nothing-touched-by-human-hands-could-be/) [wildbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wildbow/) > [Even behind bars, even on Death Row, you can fail up, because life is about committing ourselves on a daily basis to the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/even-behind-bars-even-on-death-row-you-can-fail-up-because-life-is/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Life is about committing ourselves on a daily basis to the best in us. Freedom is a state of mind. Freedom is an attitude.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/life-is-about-committing-ourselves-on-a-daily-basis-to-the-best-in-us/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Roosevelt talked not only about Freedom from Fear, but also Freedom from Want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-sachs/roosevelt-talked-not-only-about-freedom-from-fear-but-also-freedom/) [Jeffrey Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-sachs/) > [“Then they talked about freedom and evil, about the highways of freedom where evil is like a Ferrari.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-bola-o/then-they-talked-about-freedom-and-evil-about-the-highways-of-freedom/) [Roberto Bolaño](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-bola-o/) > [“And he paused, aware at last of the gathering weight of the silence. Fourteen images stared at him, without any of them offering a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/and-he-paused-aware-at-last-of-the-gathering-weight-of-the-silence/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [I do think that our freedoms are at risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-do-think-that-our-freedoms-are-at-risk/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [My grandfather could barely read. My grandmother had a sixth-grade education. They were people who were industrious. They were frugal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/my-grandfather-could-barely-read-my-grandmother-had-a-sixth-grade/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [Everyone has a right to peaceful coexistence, the basic personal freedoms, the alleviation of suffering, and the opportunity to lead a productive life...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/everyone-has-a-right-to-peaceful-coexistence-the-basic-personal/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [One of the greatest mental freedoms is truly not caring what anyone else thinks of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-greatest-mental-freedoms-is-truly-not-caring-what-anyone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Human Rights Act is not a terrorists' charter. It enables ordinary citizens to seek redress when the government breaches fundamental freedoms enshrined in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/the-human-rights-act-is-not-a-terrorists-charter-it-enables-ordinary/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [While we welcome people of all faiths in America we cannot be so naive as to expect all countries to do the same. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-huffington/while-we-welcome-people-of-all-faiths-in-america-we-cannot-be-so/) [Michael Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-huffington/) > [Whether it's people walking off 'The View' when Bill O'Reilly makes a statement about radical Islam or Juan Williams being fired for expressing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantor/whether-it-s-people-walking-off-the-view-when-bill-o-reilly-makes-a/) [Eric Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantor/) > [“The experiences of camp life show that man does have a choice of action… There were enough examples, often of a heroic nature, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/the-experiences-of-camp-life-show-that-man-does-have-a-choice-of/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) ## More by Clarence Thomas > [You have a number of choices. You could continue to always fight against people who are really distractions. They're people in the cheap seats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/you-have-a-number-of-choices-you-could-continue-to-always-fight/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [My grandfather was a man, when he talked about freedom, his attitude was really interesting. 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There is a difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/the-job-of-a-judge-is-to-figure-out-what-the-law-says-not-what-he/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [Differences in race, differences in sex, somebody doesn’t look at you right, somebody says something. Everybody is sensitive. If I had been as sensitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/differences-in-race-differences-in-sex-somebody-doesn-t-look-at-you/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [ A theory deeply etched in our law \[is that\] a free society prefers to punish the few who abuse the rights of free speech… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/a-theory-deeply-etched-in-our-law-is-that-a-free-society-prefers-to/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [I don't know one of my friends who is considered a conservative who has not had to go back and thoroughly think through everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-don-t-know-one-of-my-friends-who-is-considered-a-conservative-who/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [I' been very partial to Malcolm X, particularly his self-help teachings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-been-very-partial-to-malcolm-x-particularly-his-self-help-teachings/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [When you look at where the real problems are among minorities in our society, particularly blacks, it's at the bottom. 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Slaves did not lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/the-constitution-contains-no-dignity-clause-and-even-if-it-did-the/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [There's a difference between someone who's 'harsh' and someone who is 'hard.' Life was hard. You lived in the South, as my grandparents did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/there-s-a-difference-between-someone-who-s-harsh-and-someone-who-is/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) [Explore all 89 Clarence Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My grandfather was a man, when he talked about freedom, his attitude was really interesting. His view was that you had obligations or you had responsibilities, and when you fulfilled those obligations or responsibilities, that then gave you the liberty to do other things. 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