--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That’s what I was meaning. Ye’ve got to…" description: "\"“That’s what I was meaning. Ye’ve got to have freedom first. It’s no use believing what other folks say; the only thing is for each man to fend for him..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/d-e-stevenson-9903_freedom_that-s-what-i-was-meaning-ye-ve-got-to-h_3115696.png" --- # That’s what I was meaning. Ye’ve got to have freedom… ![“That’s what I was meaning. Ye’ve got to have freedom first. It’s no use believing what other folks say; the only thing is for each man to fend for himself, Mr. Darnay. Each man standing on his own feet, finding his own path—” “Grand!” quote by D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/d-e-stevenson-9903_freedom_that-s-what-i-was-meaning-ye-ve-got-to-h_3115696.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/d-e-stevenson-9903_freedom_that-s-what-i-was-meaning-ye-ve-got-to-h_3115696.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/d-e-stevenson-9903_freedom_that-s-what-i-was-meaning-ye-ve-got-to-h_3115696.png) > ““That’s what I was meaning. Ye’ve got to have freedom first. It’s no use believing what other folks say; the only thing is for each man to fend for himself, Mr. Darnay. Each man standing on his own feet, finding his own path—” “Grand!”” [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage stresses personal autonomy, urging individuals to prioritize freedom and self‑reliance over societal expectations. **In simple terms:** Freedom and self‑reliance are essential. Key Takeaway Seek independence before listening to others. Themes individualism freedom self‑reliance Mood reflective philosophical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - financial independence - creative pursuits - ethical decisions Key Concepts societal pressure personal autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What does freedom mean to you in daily life? - How can you balance self‑reliance with community support? A Different Perspective Total independence may be unrealistic; interdependence also matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) ## Related quotes > [Got freedom? Thank a man, or rather, thank all the men willing to die so the rest of us can go fetal in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/got-freedom-thank-a-man-or-rather-thank-all-the-men-willing-to-die-so/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [I continued the sit-ins, got on the Freedom Rides and became an active participant not just in Nashville but throughout the American South.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-continued-the-sit-ins-got-on-the-freedom-rides-and-became-an-active/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [The highest pleasure to be got out of freedom, and having nothing to do, is labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-highest-pleasure-to-be-got-out-of-freedom-and-having-nothing-to/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Divorced?' 'Separated.' He tested his thumb against the pricks of the rose. 'Women. They say you got all the freedom. Then you give them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowley/divorced-separated-he-tested-his-thumb-against-the-pricks-of-the-rose/) [John Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowley/) > [Got freedom? Thank a soldier!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/got-freedom-thank-a-soldier/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [I can almost see what Gabriel meant when he asked, 'What has the free world got that you can’t get here?' Almost. Freedom, Gabriel.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/i-can-almost-see-what-gabriel-meant-when-he-asked-what-has-the-free/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [“It took me a long time and most of the world to learn what I know about love and fate and the choices we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/it-took-me-a-long-time-and-most-of-the-world-to-learn-what-i-know-2/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [“You've got the freedom to walk out if you drag you down. You've got the freedom to walk out, If they drag you down.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tegan-quin/you-ve-got-the-freedom-to-walk-out-if-you-drag-you-down-you-ve-got/) [Tegan Quin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tegan-quin/) > [When I was taught truth, that's when I got my freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/when-i-was-taught-truth-that-s-when-i-got-my-freedom/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [“In this shifting landscape, we may tend to forget “what the old folks say.” Most of us probably now realize that our ancestors did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-l-parker/in-this-shifting-landscape-we-may-tend-to-forget-what-the-old-folks/) [Deborah L. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-l-parker/) > [WHEN FOLKS SAY 'I NEED MY SPACE WHAT THEY NEED IS THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN IT!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-paul-rose/when-folks-say-i-need-my-space-what-they-need-is-the-right-people-in/) [LEONARD PAUL ROSE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-paul-rose/) > [Folks will say anything, and next time round they'll believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-stewart/folks-will-say-anything-and-next-time-round-they-ll-believe-it/) [Mary Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-stewart/) > [Contrary to what some folks might say, I do not want to raise taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bel-edwards/contrary-to-what-some-folks-might-say-i-do-not-want-to-raise-taxes/) [John Bel Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bel-edwards/) > [Folks say I'm egotistical. Hell, I don't even know what it means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-davis/folks-say-i-m-egotistical-hell-i-don-t-even-know-what-it-means/) [Mac Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-davis/) > [“Some folks say That he’s my son! I guess it’s possible, you know. I’ve had so many one-night stands, So many whams and bams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-elliott/some-folks-say-that-he-s-my-son-i-guess-it-s-possible-you-know-i-ve/) [David Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-elliott/) ## More by D.E. Stevenson > [“I can’t be doing with people that are not exactly what they seem.’ Mamie was”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/i-can-t-be-doing-with-people-that-are-not-exactly-what-they-seem/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“We agree that it is too late to think of visiting Cousin Ellen today – in fact if we do not hurry home we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/we-agree-that-it-is-too-late-to-think-of-visiting-cousin-ellen-today/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“Spend the afternoon with Miss H. looking over Bryan’s school clothes, and compile a large list of what he requires, which will probably have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/spend-the-afternoon-with-miss-h-looking-over-bryan-s-school-clothes/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“Some people’s elegance was only skin-deep, scrape off a little bit of the veneer and you got the real wood—common”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/some-people-s-elegance-was-only-skin-deep-scrape-off-a-little-bit-of/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“Why do I always want to appear more clever than I really am when Nora is anywhere about? Am much distressed at this discovery,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/why-do-i-always-want-to-appear-more-clever-than-i-really-am-when-nora/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [To have all my dear ones together under one roof - that is all I ask of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/to-have-all-my-dear-ones-together-under-one-roof-that-is-all-i-ask-of/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [Prayer did not come easily to me for I always feel that prayer is a silent things, and opening of the heart. To ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/prayer-did-not-come-easily-to-me-for-i-always-feel-that-prayer-is-a/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“In the course of my wanderings I have started life anew in many places, and in every place the same thing happens: at first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/in-the-course-of-my-wanderings-i-have-started-life-anew-in-many/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [It is curious, isn't it, that things you know well never look dirty and dilapidated-other people's old furniture looks shabby and moth-eaten. “I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/it-is-curious-isn-t-it-that-things-you-know-well-never-look-dirty-and/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“Anne could not explain. It was always difficult for Anne to explain things even when they were clear to herself, and in this case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/anne-could-not-explain-it-was-always-difficult-for-anne-to-explain/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“As long as skies are blue and fields are green Evening must usher night, night urge the morrow, Month follow month with woe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/as-long-as-skies-are-blue-and-fields-are-green-evening-must-usher/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“What fools the public were! They were exactly like sheep…thought Mr. Abbott sleepily…following each other’s lead, neglecting one book and buying another just because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/what-fools-the-public-were-they-were-exactly-like-sheep-thought-mr/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“but she told Aunt Bella everything else, and Aunt Bella listened enthralled. She nodded and sighed and asked the right questions in the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/but-she-told-aunt-bella-everything-else-and-aunt-bella-listened/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [One need never be dull as long as one has friends to help, gardens to enjoy and books in the long winter evenings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/one-need-never-be-dull-as-long-as-one-has-friends-to-help-gardens-to/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [There is something very appealing about a room which one occupied as a child; it brings back one's childhood more vividly than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/there-is-something-very-appealing-about-a-room-which-one-occupied-as/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) [Explore all 68 D.E. Stevenson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) ## 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": "“That’s what I was meaning. Ye’ve got to have freedom first. It’s no use believing what other folks say; the only thing is for each man to fend for himself, Mr. Darnay. Each man standing on his own feet, finding his own path—” “Grand!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "D.E. 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