--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The really important kind of freedom…" description: "\"The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/david-foster-wallace-161_able_the-really-important-kind-of-freedom-inv_2626742.jpg" --- # The really important kind of freedom involves attention… ![“The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day.” quote by David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/david-foster-wallace-161_able_the-really-important-kind-of-freedom-inv_2626742.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/david-foster-wallace-161_able_the-really-important-kind-of-freedom-inv_2626742.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/david-foster-wallace-161_able_the-really-important-kind-of-freedom-inv_2626742.jpg) > “The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day.” [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom requires focused attention, awareness, discipline, effort, and selfless care practiced daily in small, unglamorous ways. **In simple terms:** True freedom is caring for others through daily effort. Key Takeaway Practice daily selfless actions. Themes freedom attention discipline selflessness Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - volunteering - parenting - teamwork - community service Key Concepts mindfulness ethical responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance self‑care with selfless service? - What small acts can you do today? A Different Perspective Sustaining such care can lead to burnout without self‑care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Caring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) ## Related quotes > [“The really important kind of freedom involves attention ad awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/the-really-important-kind-of-freedom-involves-attention-ad-awareness/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/the-really-important-kind-of-freedom-involves-attention-and-awareness-2/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [The really important kind of freedom involves being able truly to care about other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/the-really-important-kind-of-freedom-involves-being-able-truly-to/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-really-important-kind-of-freedom-involves-attention-and-awareness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think it's really important to be kind, especially to people whose lives are grim - I try hard to cheer people up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-think-it-s-really-important-to-be-kind-especially-to-people-whose/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [“There are all different kinds of freedom, and the kind that is most precious you will not hear much talked about in the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/there-are-all-different-kinds-of-freedom-and-the-kind-that-is-most/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“There are all different kinds of freedom, and the kind that is most precious you will not hear much talk about much in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/there-are-all-different-kinds-of-freedom-and-the-kind-that-is-most-2/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [ “\[A\] people needs to understand what freedom is. 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Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wm-paul-young/) > [Freedom involves a knowledge of choices. This alone is reason enough to get an education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-lemley/freedom-involves-a-knowledge-of-choices-this-alone-is-reason-enough/) Bill Lemley > [“Always, emotional freedom involves choosing where you put your attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-orloff/always-emotional-freedom-involves-choosing-where-you-put-your/) [Judith Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-orloff/) > [Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/most-people-do-not-really-want-freedom-because-freedom-involves/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) ## More by David Foster Wallace > [“I felt more solidly composed, now that I was horizontal. 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