--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the truest sense, freedom cannot be…" description: "\"In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.\" — Franklin D. Roosevelt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_4th-of-july_in-the-truest-sense-freedom-cannot-be-be_2383026.jpg" --- # In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must… ![“In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_4th-of-july_in-the-truest-sense-freedom-cannot-be-be_2383026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_4th-of-july_in-the-truest-sense-freedom-cannot-be-be_2383026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_4th-of-july_in-the-truest-sense-freedom-cannot-be-be_2383026.jpg) > “In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.” [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True freedom is earned through effort, not given by others. **In simple terms:** Freedom must be achieved, not granted. Key Takeaway Earn your freedom. Themes freedom self-determination effort Mood determined hopeful Type political motivational When to use this quote - civil rights activism - entrepreneurship - education Key Concepts Political philosophy personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to achieve freedom? - How do you handle obstacles to self-determination? A Different Perspective External forces may still limit freedom despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence-day/) [Memorial day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorial-day/) [Patriotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotic/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-freedom/) ## Related quotes > [Freedom cannot be bestowed - it must be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/freedom-cannot-be-bestowed-it-must-be-achieved/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Indianapolis proved to be the perfect Super Bowl city, accommodating in the truest sense of the word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-leavy/indianapolis-proved-to-be-the-perfect-super-bowl-city-accommodating/) [Jane Leavy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-leavy/) > [“In the truest sense, Christian pilgrims have the best of both worlds. We have joy whenever this world reminds us of the next, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/in-the-truest-sense-christian-pilgrims-have-the-best-of-both-worlds/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [For me, music, in the truest sense of the word, is about making people happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/for-me-music-in-the-truest-sense-of-the-word-is-about-making-people/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [I'm a patriot in the truest sense of the word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-m-a-patriot-in-the-truest-sense-of-the-word/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [Marriage in its truest sense, is a partnership of equals, with neither exercising dominion over the other, but, rather, with each encouraging and assisting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/marriage-in-its-truest-sense-is-a-partnership-of-equals-with-neither/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“Love at first sight may not apply when you're nine and eleven, but I feel like I've always known she was my purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yellowbella/love-at-first-sight-may-not-apply-when-you-re-nine-and-eleven-but-i/) YellowBella > [Labor Day symbolizes our determination to achieve an economic freedom for the average man which will give his political freedom realty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/labor-day-symbolizes-our-determination-to-achieve-an-economic-freedom/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The royalists of the economic order have conceded that political freedom was the business of the government, but they have maintained that economic slavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-royalists-of-the-economic-order-have-conceded-that-political/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The winds that blow through the wide sky in these mounts, the winds that sweep from Canada to Mexico, from the Pacific to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-winds-that-blow-through-the-wide-sky-in-these-mounts-the-winds/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [This is the period from ages 60 to 90 in which many people have a new sense of freedom, kids grown up, retired from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-butler-bowdon/this-is-the-period-from-ages-60-to-90-in-which-many-people-have-a-new/) [Tom Butler-Bowdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-butler-bowdon/) > [“to her every whim? As he closed in on Kitlington, though, the duke began to feel a sense of freedom that was quite different.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-haversham/to-her-every-whim-as-he-closed-in-on-kitlington-though-the-duke-began/) Abigail Haversham > [I came from a Sorkin-like project in the sense that there was no freedom to change a line, which, in a weird way, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/i-came-from-a-sorkin-like-project-in-the-sense-that-there-was-no/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [“And this was the greatest gift that aviation could ever give me; not the sense of freedom but the sense of permanence, coupling, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-benjamin/and-this-was-the-greatest-gift-that-aviation-could-ever-give-me-not/) [Melanie Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-benjamin/) > [“I couldn’t make sense of the freedom I felt when I let go and let him control me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-couldn-t-make-sense-of-the-freedom-i-felt-when-i-let-go-and-let-him/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Franklin D. Roosevelt > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Inquisitiveness is the most useful talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/inquisitiveness-is-the-most-useful-talent/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > ['Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-democracy-must-cling-to-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I have seen war ... I hate war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-hate-war/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-have-seen-war-on-land-and-sea-i-have-seen-blood/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [All of our people all over the country-except the pure-blooded Indians-are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/all-of-our-people-all-over-the-country-except-the-pure-blooded/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [They have given their sons to the military services. They have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels. They have made the planes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/they-have-given-their-sons-to-the-military-services-they-have-stoked/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [On the European Front the most important development of the past year has been the crushing offensive of the Great Armies of Russia...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/on-the-european-front-the-most-important-development-of-the-past-year/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The core of our defense is the faith we have in the institutions we defend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-core-of-our-defense-is-the-faith-we-have-in-the-institutions-we/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [War is a contagion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/war-is-a-contagion/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Labor Day symbolizes our determination to achieve an economic freedom for the average man which will give his political freedom realty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/labor-day-symbolizes-our-determination-to-achieve-an-economic-freedom/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Too often in recent history liberal governments have been wrecked on rocks of loose fiscal policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/too-often-in-recent-history-liberal-governments-have-been-wrecked-on/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The frontier of America is on the Rhine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-frontier-of-america-is-on-the-rhine/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/repetition-does-not-transform-a-lie-into-a-truth/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The future lies with those wise political leaders who realize that the great public is interested more in Government than in politics. The growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-future-lies-with-those-wise-political-leaders-who-realize-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) [Explore all 521 Franklin D. Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## More 4th of july quotes > [Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/everything-that-is-really-great-and-inspiring-is-created-by-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Me and my cuzin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lol/me-and-my-cuzin/) Lol > [Many public-school children seem to know only two dates—1492 and 4th of July; and as a rule they don't know what happened on either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/many-public-school-children-seem-to-know-only-two-dates-1492-and-4th/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/interwoven-as-is-the-love-of-liberty-with-every-ligament-of-your/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [When wrongs are pressed because it is believed they will be borne, resistance becomes morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-wrongs-are-pressed-because-it-is-believed-they-will-be-borne/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. Do not ever let anyone claim to be a true American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-impossible-to-rightly-govern-the-world-without-god-and-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/but-what-do-we-mean-by-the-american-revolution-do-we-mean-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [My first wish is to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/my-first-wish-is-to-see-this-plague-of-mankind-banished-from-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Lenity will operate with greater force, in some instances, than rigor. It is, therefore, my first wish, to have my whole conduct distinguished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/lenity-will-operate-with-greater-force-in-some-instances-than-rigor/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Think about way back then...turn your thoughts way back then...remember the essence way back then...treasured the memories way back then...Feel free to embrace the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/think-about-way-back-then-turn-your-thoughts-way-back-then-remember/) Louaiq8 > [People have forgotten what 4th of July really is. Its the day we got the freedom we use everyday. Its not fireworks and parties.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-have-forgotten-what-4th-of-july-really-is-its-the-day-we-got/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I usually don't have a burger, a brat, and a steak but it is 4th of July. And I need the energy if I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-usually-don-t-have-a-burger-a-brat-and-a-steak-but-it-is-4th-of/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) Browse all 309 4th of july quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franklin D. 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