---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It really is this: you are either for…"
description: "\"It really is this: you are either for liberty, you're for freedom, and you're for living how you want to live without infringing and impugning on anyon..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/dave-rubin-11946_freedom_it-really-is-this-you-are-either-for-lib_1530391.jpg"
---

#  It really is this: you are either for liberty, you're for…

![“It really is this: you are either for liberty, you're for freedom, and you're for living how you want to live without infringing and impugning on anyone else's rights, or you want the state to deal with everything.” quote by Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/dave-rubin-11946_freedom_it-really-is-this-you-are-either-for-lib_1530391.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/dave-rubin-11946_freedom_it-really-is-this-you-are-either-for-lib_1530391.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/dave-rubin-11946_freedom_it-really-is-this-you-are-either-for-lib_1530391.jpg)

> “It really is this: you are either for liberty, you're for freedom, and you're for living how you want to live without infringing and impugning on anyone else's rights, or you want the state to deal with everything.”

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Liberty means respecting others’ rights; state control removes that freedom.

**In simple terms:** Freedom respects rights; state control erodes them.

Key Takeaway

Choose liberty over state control.

Themes

freedom rights politics individualism

Mood

thoughtful assertive

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- political debate
- community organizing
- personal decision making
- activism
- policy advocacy

Key Concepts

libertarianism civil liberty state authority

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance personal liberty with societal responsibilities?
- When is state intervention justified?

A Different Perspective

State solutions can address collective needs without eroding rights.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/)

## Related quotes

> [I keep telling myself to calm down, to take less of an interest in things and not to get so excited, but I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-adie/i-keep-telling-myself-to-calm-down-to-take-less-of-an-interest-in/)

[Kate Adie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-adie/)

> [Government has gotten too big, and it's infringed on our liberty and freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-szeliga/government-has-gotten-too-big-and-it-s-infringed-on-our-liberty-and/)

[Kathy Szeliga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-szeliga/)

> [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/)

> [Christian liberty is freedom from sin, not freedom to sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/christian-liberty-is-freedom-from-sin-not-freedom-to-sin/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [I want to err on the side of constitutional liberty and freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-johnson/i-want-to-err-on-the-side-of-constitutional-liberty-and-freedom/)

[Ron Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-johnson/)

> [Now one of the most essential branches of English liberty, is the freedom of one's house. A man's house is his castle; and while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/now-one-of-the-most-essential-branches-of-english-liberty-is-the/)

[James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/)

> [“Freedom is found through living. Joy is found through forgiveness. Truth is found through love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-buhl/freedom-is-found-through-living-joy-is-found-through-forgiveness/)

[Sarah Buhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-buhl/)

> [“Freedom is a living concept, free in itself…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talismanist-giebra/freedom-is-a-living-concept-free-in-itself/)

[Talismanist Giebra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talismanist-giebra/)

> [True freedom is living as if you had completely chosen whatever you feel or experience in this moment. This inner alignment with the Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/true-freedom-is-living-as-if-you-had-completely-chosen-whatever-you/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [When I go to Africa and spend more time there with people who are the least of the least, those in desperate situations, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-curtis-chapman/when-i-go-to-africa-and-spend-more-time-there-with-people-who-are-the/)

[Steven Curtis Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-curtis-chapman/)

> [Freedom is living without chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indra-devi/freedom-is-living-without-chains/)

[Indra Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indra-devi/)

> [The dead hand has too long hampered the freedom of the living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-robertson/the-dead-hand-has-too-long-hampered-the-freedom-of-the-living/)

[James Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-robertson/)

> [“We can reach untainted experiential freedom, by living in the moment as it is—without contemplation. Here we find the possibility of freedom—of just being—living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-simon-gunn/we-can-reach-untainted-experiential-freedom-by-living-in-the-moment/)

[Jacqueline Simon Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-simon-gunn/)

> [There's a lot of freedom for me living in L.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deana-carter/there-s-a-lot-of-freedom-for-me-living-in-l-a/)

[Deana Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deana-carter/)

> [The freedom of being single and not in love.People you should try it I mean no lien no pain just freedom n living life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montreal-pruiit/the-freedom-of-being-single-and-not-in-love-people-you-should-try-it/)

Montreal Pruiit

## More by Dave Rubin

> [The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. That's upsetting to a lot of people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-election-of-trump-threw-the-chess-board-up-the-pieces-are-all/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

> [Classical liberalism is the idea that individual freedom and limited government are the best way for humans to form a free society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/classical-liberalism-is-the-idea-that-individual-freedom-and-limited/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

> [Sometimes inaction is worse than action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/sometimes-inaction-is-worse-than-action/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

> [If you took one of these One Direction kids, because they basically are kids, my guess is one of them is gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/if-you-took-one-of-these-one-direction-kids-because-they-basically/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

> [I'm so in favor of gay marriage that I even married a guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-m-so-in-favor-of-gay-marriage-that-i-even-married-a-guy/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

> [I believe the regressive Left - the group of people who use illiberal tactics to silence those defending liberal principles - to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-believe-the-regressive-left-the-group-of-people-who-use-illiberal/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

> [The whole point of real comedy is that you can say something that is true, and by being funny, you can make it tolerable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-whole-point-of-real-comedy-is-that-you-can-say-something-that-is/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

> [Those who only tolerate people they agree with or like aren't actually tolerant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/those-who-only-tolerate-people-they-agree-with-or-like-aren-t/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

> [I spent too many years of my life stressing over and struggling with my sexuality. But it was a valuable lesson. I realised that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-spent-too-many-years-of-my-life-stressing-over-and-struggling-with/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

> [I don't do anything in my life as far as I know, or at least consciously, that's based in religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-don-t-do-anything-in-my-life-as-far-as-i-know-or-at-least/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

> [I think virtually everyone wants to do good and be good and be decent to each other and pursue something that is valuable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-think-virtually-everyone-wants-to-do-good-and-be-good-and-be-decent/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

> [Obviously, I agree with Trump on many of his criticisms of the mainstream media. You can absolutely argue that their failure to report honestly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/obviously-i-agree-with-trump-on-many-of-his-criticisms-of-the/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

> [Whatever differences we have, tolerating others' opinions is a prerequisite to a functioning and free society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/whatever-differences-we-have-tolerating-others-opinions-is-a/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

> [I think the media has portrayed conservatives as these cold, heartless people who want poor people to die and let half the population starve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-think-the-media-has-portrayed-conservatives-as-these-cold-heartless/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

> [I remember thinking Democrats and liberals were the good guys. They cared about the little guy. They cared about poor people. They cared about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-remember-thinking-democrats-and-liberals-were-the-good-guys-they/)

[Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

[Explore all 57 Dave Rubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/)

## 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": "It really is this: you are either for liberty, you're for freedom, and you're for living how you want to live without infringing and impugning on anyone else's rights, or you want the state to deal with everything.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dave Rubin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/it-really-is-this-you-are-either-for-liberty-you-re-for-freedom-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Freedom"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/it-really-is-this-you-are-either-for-liberty-you-re-for-freedom-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/dave-rubin-11946_freedom_it-really-is-this-you-are-either-for-lib_1530391.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/dave-rubin-11946_freedom_it-really-is-this-you-are-either-for-lib_1530391.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/dave-rubin-11946_freedom_it-really-is-this-you-are-either-for-lib_1530391.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It really is this: you are either for liberty, you're for freedom, and you're for living how you want to…” — Dave Rubin",
                "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": "Dave Rubin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It really is this: you are...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/it-really-is-this-you-are-either-for-liberty-you-re-for-freedom-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/it-really-is-this-you-are-either-for-liberty-you-re-for-freedom-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
