--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mankind is at its best when it is most…" description: "\"Mankind is at its best when it is most free. This will be clear if we grasp the principle of liberty. We must recall that the basic principle is freedo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/dante-alighieri-590_basic-principles_mankind-is-at-its-best-when-it-is-most-f_2127564.jpg" --- # Mankind is at its best when it is most free. This will be… ![“Mankind is at its best when it is most free. This will be clear if we grasp the principle of liberty. We must recall that the basic principle is freedom of choice, which saying many have on their lips but few in their minds.” quote by Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/dante-alighieri-590_basic-principles_mankind-is-at-its-best-when-it-is-most-f_2127564.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/dante-alighieri-590_basic-principles_mankind-is-at-its-best-when-it-is-most-f_2127564.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/dante-alighieri-590_basic-principles_mankind-is-at-its-best-when-it-is-most-f_2127564.jpg) > “Mankind is at its best when it is most free. This will be clear if we grasp the principle of liberty. We must recall that the basic principle is freedom of choice, which saying many have on their lips but few in their minds.” [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom allows humanity to reach its highest potential by enabling authentic choices and responsibility. **In simple terms:** Freedom lets people be their best. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal liberty and respect others' choices. Themes freedom human potential responsibility Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education reform - community decision making - personal development - public policy Key Concepts political philosophy ethics autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How does true freedom affect societal well‑being? - What responsibilities accompany freedom? A Different Perspective Freedom without accountability can lead to chaos. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basic principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic-principles/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-choice/) [Freedom of choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-choice/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Mankind Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind-best-337745/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Principle Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-freedom-383859/) [Principle Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-liberty-318090/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Recalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recalls/) ## Related quotes > [“it is of importance to note that when we exclude certain possibilities that would give rise to still greater intricacy, the form of comparison…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-antoon-lorentz/it-is-of-importance-to-note-that-when-we-exclude-certain/) [Hendrik Antoon Lorentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-antoon-lorentz/) > [Mankind is at its best when it is most free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/mankind-is-at-its-best-when-it-is-most-free/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [I grew up with injustice and could do nothing about it. But once in America, I had freedom of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/i-grew-up-with-injustice-and-could-do-nothing-about-it-but-once-in/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [Without freedom of choice there is no creativity. The body dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-kirk/without-freedom-of-choice-there-is-no-creativity-the-body-dies/) [James T Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-kirk/) > [My gift to you will be to take away your freedom of choice for a while. Freedom can be very unhealthy and unproductive. Instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-filipacchi/my-gift-to-you-will-be-to-take-away-your-freedom-of-choice-for-a/) [Amanda Filipacchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-filipacchi/) > [Today, as never before, the issue is clearly defined-liberty and freedom of choice, or oppression and subjugation for the individual and for nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/today-as-never-before-the-issue-is-clearly-defined-liberty-and/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [I was 37 when my father died-and I no longer had any freedom of choice over what I would do with the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-37-when-my-father-died-and-i-no-longer-had-any-freedom-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Voting is a meaningless exercise. I'm not going to waste my time with it. These parties, these politicians are given to us as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/voting-is-a-meaningless-exercise-i-m-not-going-to-waste-my-time-with/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Every market has some rules and boundaries that restrict freedom of choice. A market looks free only because we so unconditionally accept its underlying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/every-market-has-some-rules-and-boundaries-that-restrict-freedom-of/) [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) > [“... freedom of choice is possible. Life is going to unfold however it does: pleasant or unpleasant, disappointing or thrilling, expected or unexpected, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/freedom-of-choice-is-possible-life-is-going-to-unfold-however-it-does/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [In America, we have freedom of choice. But some are free to choose between Lamborghini and Rolls Royce while others are free to choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/in-america-we-have-freedom-of-choice-but-some-are-free-to-choose/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [Without freedom of choice, there is no creativity. Without creativity, there is no life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/without-freedom-of-choice-there-is-no-creativity-without-creativity/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [We need the children of Indonesia and the Philippines to manufacture our freedom of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-maron/we-need-the-children-of-indonesia-and-the-philippines-to-manufacture/) [Marc Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-maron/) > [We owe this freedom of choice and action to those men and women in uniform who have served this nation and its interests in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-owe-this-freedom-of-choice-and-action-to-those-men-and-women-in/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“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/) ## More by Dante Alighieri > [In that part of the book of my memory before the which is little that can be read, there is a rubric, saying, Incipit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/in-that-part-of-the-book-of-my-memory-before-the-which-is-little-that/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“Be as a tower, that, firmly set, Shakes not its top for any blast that blows!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/be-as-a-tower-that-firmly-set-shakes-not-its-top-for-any-blast-that/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Pure essence, and pure matter, and the two joined into one were shot forth without flaw, like three bright arrows from a three-string bow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/pure-essence-and-pure-matter-and-the-two-joined-into-one-were-shot/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Into the eternal darkness, into fire and into ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/into-the-eternal-darkness-into-fire-and-into-ice/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [O power of fantasy that steals our minds from things outside, to leave us unaware, although a thousand trumpets may blow loud--what stirs you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/o-power-of-fantasy-that-steals-our-minds-from-things-outside-to-leave/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [The purpose of the whole (work) is to remove those who are living in this life from a state of wretchedness and lead them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/the-purpose-of-the-whole-work-is-to-remove-those-who-are-living-in/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“Noi leggeveamo un giorno per diletto Di Lancialotto, come amor lo strinse; Soli eravamo e senza alcun sospetto Per più fiate gli occhi ci…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/noi-leggeveamo-un-giorno-per-diletto-di-lancialotto-come-amor-lo/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Love can move the Sun and the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/love-can-move-the-sun-and-the-stars/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Oh foolish desires of mortals! How weak are the reasons that lead us to not take off our flight from the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/oh-foolish-desires-of-mortals-how-weak-are-the-reasons-that-lead-us/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“On march the banners of the King of Hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/on-march-the-banners-of-the-king-of-hell/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Seldom indeed does human virtue rise From trunk to branch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/seldom-indeed-does-human-virtue-rise-from-trunk-to-branch/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [All hope abandon, ye who enter here!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/all-hope-abandon-ye-who-enter-here/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [We have no hope and yet we live in longing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/we-have-no-hope-and-yet-we-live-in-longing/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Not one drop of blood is left inside my veins that does not throb: I recognize signs of the ancient flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/not-one-drop-of-blood-is-left-inside-my-veins-that-does-not-throb-i/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [It is necessity and not pleasure that compels us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/it-is-necessity-and-not-pleasure-that-compels-us/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) [Explore all 414 Dante Alighieri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) ## More Basic principles quotes > [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." 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No other principle of effectiveness is violated as constantly today as the basic principle of concentration… Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/concentration-is-the-key-to-economic-results-no-other-principle-of/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The basic principle, and the principles of chiropractic which have been developed from it are not new. They are as old as the vertebrae...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/the-basic-principle-and-the-principles-of-chiropractic-which-have/) [Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/) > [I feel like we're between two great possibilities: we're either going to turn things around, and in this generation see the rising sun of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/i-feel-like-we-re-between-two-great-possibilities-we-re-either-going/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [There’s only one basic principle of self-defense- you must apply the most effective weapon, as soon as possible, to the most vulnerable target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/there-s-only-one-basic-principle-of-self-defense-you-must-apply-the/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [People should find what approach really speaks to them, and then do it. 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It's either collective security or selective security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/different-regions-may-require-different-strategies-as-president-bush/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [I think that rather than talking about particular models, of which there could be a huge number, we should talk about basic principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/i-think-that-rather-than-talking-about-particular-models-of-which/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [“Spiraling healthcare costs are the expected result because greater revenues are built into the basic principles that drive the system. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davis/spiraling-healthcare-costs-are-the-expected-result-because-greater/) [William Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davis/) [Browse all 120 Basic principles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic-principles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mankind is at its best when it is most free. This will be clear if we grasp the principle of liberty. 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