---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That there is also freedom in captivity…"
description: "\"That there is also freedom in captivity, only a prisoner can claim. Coming from a prison guard, this statement would be blasphemy.\" — Friedrich Durrenmatt"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/friedrich-d-rrenmatt-4497_blasphemy_that-there-is-also-freedom-in-captivity_1288783.png"
---

#  That there is also freedom in captivity, only a prisoner…

![“That there is also freedom in captivity, only a prisoner can claim. Coming from a prison guard, this statement would be blasphemy.” quote by Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/friedrich-d-rrenmatt-4497_blasphemy_that-there-is-also-freedom-in-captivity_1288783.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/friedrich-d-rrenmatt-4497_blasphemy_that-there-is-also-freedom-in-captivity_1288783.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/friedrich-d-rrenmatt-4497_blasphemy_that-there-is-also-freedom-in-captivity_1288783.png)

> “That there is also freedom in captivity, only a prisoner can claim. Coming from a prison guard, this statement would be blasphemy.”

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

## About This Quote

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

Freedom can exist even within confinement; true liberty is claimed by those who accept their constraints.

**In simple terms:** Freedom is possible even when imprisoned.

Key Takeaway

Embrace constraints to find inner freedom.

Themes

freedom captivity paradox psychology

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

- prisoners
- guards
- people feeling oppression

Key Concepts

existentialism agency prison literature

Questions to Reflect On

- Can one be truly free while restrained?
- What does “freedom in captivity” mean to you?

A Different Perspective

May romanticize oppression.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Blasphemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blasphemy/) [Captivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/captivity/) [Captivity Prisoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/captivity-prisoner-4191084/) [Claims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claims/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Captivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-captivity-677132/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Prison guards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison-guards/) [Prisoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisoner/) [Prisoner Claim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisoner-claim-4191085/) [Statements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statements/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/)

## Related quotes

> [If fame came near to you to get you, you must run away from it very fast! Because this is a matter of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-fame-came-near-to-you-to-get-you-you-must-run-away-from-it-very/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [I didn't spend a lot of time with prison guards, but my father was an assistant district attorney for a long time so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-schilling/i-didn-t-spend-a-lot-of-time-with-prison-guards-but-my-father-was-an/)

[Taylor Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-schilling/)

> [I'd never been a prison guard before or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynndie-england/i-d-never-been-a-prison-guard-before-or-anything/)

[Lynndie England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynndie-england/)

> [It is important to remember that government interference always means either violent action or the threat of such action. Government is in the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/it-is-important-to-remember-that-government-interference-always-means-2/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [The prison-industrial complex employs millions of people directly and indirectly. Judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, prison guards, construction companies that build prisons, police, probation officers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/the-prison-industrial-complex-employs-millions-of-people-directly-and/)

[Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/)

> [“The only time they appear human is when you have a knife at their throats. The instant you remove it, they fall back into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-henry-abbott/the-only-time-they-appear-human-is-when-you-have-a-knife-at-their/)

[Jack Henry Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-henry-abbott/)

> [“I had a chance to read Monte Christo in prison once, too, but not to the end. I observed that while Dumas tries to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/i-had-a-chance-to-read-monte-christo-in-prison-once-too-but-not-to/)

[Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/)

> [Prison guard unions have become the powerful political forces in some states, particularly California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/prison-guard-unions-have-become-the-powerful-political-forces-in-some/)

[Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/)

> [The fastest growing occupation in the private sector is security guards. The fastest growing occupation in the public sector is prison guards. (1992)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-fastest-growing-occupation-in-the-private-sector-is-security/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [The prison guards are capable of committing daily atrocities and obscenities, smiling the smile of the angels all the while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-harris/the-prison-guards-are-capable-of-committing-daily-atrocities-and/)

[Jean Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-harris/)

> [This so-called ill treatment and torture in detention centers, stories of which were spread everywhere among the people, and later by the prisoners who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-hoss/this-so-called-ill-treatment-and-torture-in-detention-centers-stories/)

[Rudolf Hoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-hoss/)

> [“Will you treat people who make you miserable, as prison guards, or travel agents?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-miklosy/will-you-treat-people-who-make-you-miserable-as-prison-guards-or/)

[Leslie Miklosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-miklosy/)

> [Even here in America, we felt the cool, refreshing breeze of freedom when Nelson Mandela took the seat of Presidency in his country where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/even-here-in-america-we-felt-the-cool-refreshing-breeze-of-freedom/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [When a captive lion steps out of his cage, he comes into a wider world than the lion who has known only the wilds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/when-a-captive-lion-steps-out-of-his-cage-he-comes-into-a-wider-world/)

[Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/)

> [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/)

[Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/)

## More by Friedrich Durrenmatt

> [Rome has betrayed itself. It knew the truth and chose violence, it knew humaneness and it chose tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/rome-has-betrayed-itself-it-knew-the-truth-and-chose-violence-it-knew/)

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

> [A major power can afford a military debacle only when it looks like a political victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/a-major-power-can-afford-a-military-debacle-only-when-it-looks-like-a/)

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

> [“...he had read von Lambert's book on terrorism, there were two pages devoted to the Arab resistance movement, von Lambert refused to call them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/he-had-read-von-lambert-s-book-on-terrorism-there-were-two-pages/)

[Friedrich Dürrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

> [People like us who are on their last leg can only understand comedies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/people-like-us-who-are-on-their-last-leg-can-only-understand-comedies/)

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

> [Before anything else, we need a new age of Enlightenment. Our present political systems must relinquish their claims on truth, justice and freedom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/before-anything-else-we-need-a-new-age-of-enlightenment-our-present/)

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

> [So then learn to conquer your fear. This is the only art we have to master nowadays: to look at things without fear, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/so-then-learn-to-conquer-your-fear-this-is-the-only-art-we-have-to/)

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

> [We are not cave dwellers anymore, we live in the age of technology. When someone needs a car, he does not need to build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/we-are-not-cave-dwellers-anymore-we-live-in-the-age-of-technology/)

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

> [Every work of art depicts an aspect of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/every-work-of-art-depicts-an-aspect-of-reality/)

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

> [Justice is horrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/justice-is-horrible/)

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

> [Then the American flag was saluted. In general, in the United States people always salute the American flag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/then-the-american-flag-was-saluted-in-general-in-the-united-states/)

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

> [Communism is a proposition to structure the world more reasonably, a proposition for changing the world. As such, we have to analyze it and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/communism-is-a-proposition-to-structure-the-world-more-reasonably-a/)

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

> [The content of physics is the concern of physicists, its effect the concern of all men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/the-content-of-physics-is-the-concern-of-physicists-its-effect-the/)

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

> [This inhuman world has to become more humane. But how?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/this-inhuman-world-has-to-become-more-humane-but-how/)

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

> [Humans need justice in the here and now and grace in the thereafter. Justice in the here and now is possible only without freedom,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/humans-need-justice-in-the-here-and-now-and-grace-in-the-thereafter/)

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

> [The only remedy against hunger is reasonable birth control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/the-only-remedy-against-hunger-is-reasonable-birth-control/)

[Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

[Explore all 95 Friedrich Durrenmatt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/)

## More Blasphemy quotes

> [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Blasphemy and sedition (meaning the truth about Church and State).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/blasphemy-and-sedition-meaning-the-truth-about-church-and-state/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted-by-men-and-decreed-by-human/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [“They're power-hungry, the mundane said of the magical people. They're immoral, people said, and they're scary. Playing with the dark arts could plunge me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-wicker/they-re-power-hungry-the-mundane-said-of-the-magical-people-they-re/)

[Christine Wicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-wicker/)

> [Political correctness is a major defect of the western ethos. Some Western countries have even passed blasphemy laws that would put you in legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/political-correctness-is-a-major-defect-of-the-western-ethos-some/)

[Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/)

> [As George Bernard Shaw observed: "All great truths begin as blasphemies." Yet I have to say, the idea that there is intelligent life elsewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/as-george-bernard-shaw-observed-all-great-truths-begin-as-blasphemies/)

[Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/)

> [Now a doll found naked in a ditch eyes rusted open, is blasphemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-digges/now-a-doll-found-naked-in-a-ditch-eyes-rusted-open-is-blasphemy/)

[Deborah Digges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-digges/)

> [The most important truths always appear first as blasphemies or obscenities. That's why every great innovator is persecuted. And the sacraments look obscene, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/the-most-important-truths-always-appear-first-as-blasphemies-or/)

[Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/)

> [Now 'South Park' - they are interested in blasphemy. They're interested in creating offence for its own sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/now-south-park-they-are-interested-in-blasphemy-they-re-interested-in/)

[David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/)

> [We cannot assume the injustice of any actions which only create offense, and especially as regards religion and morals. He who utters or does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/we-cannot-assume-the-injustice-of-any-actions-which-only-create/)

[Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/)

> [You keep accusing me of blasphemy all of the time, but I cannot be convicted of a victimless crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/you-keep-accusing-me-of-blasphemy-all-of-the-time-but-i-cannot-be/)

[Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/)

> [They say moses split the red sea, I split a blunt and roll a fat one when I'm deadly. blasphemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2pac/they-say-moses-split-the-red-sea-i-split-a-blunt-and-roll-a-fat-one/)

[2pac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2pac/)

> [“...The Presidential election has given me less anxiety than I myself could have imagined. The next administration will be a troublesome one, to whomsoever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-presidential-election-has-given-me-less-anxiety-than-i-myself/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [That in the captains but a choleric word Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/that-in-the-captains-but-a-choleric-word-which-in-the-soldier-is-flat/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“I want blasphemy, murder, rape, revolution, anything, bad or good, but strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-blasphemy-murder-rape-revolution-anything-bad-or-good-but/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 260 Blasphemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blasphemy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "That there is also freedom in captivity, only a prisoner can claim. Coming from a prison guard, this statement would be blasphemy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Friedrich Durrenmatt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/that-there-is-also-freedom-in-captivity-only-a-prisoner-can-claim/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Blasphemy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/that-there-is-also-freedom-in-captivity-only-a-prisoner-can-claim/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/friedrich-d-rrenmatt-4497_blasphemy_that-there-is-also-freedom-in-captivity_1288783.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/friedrich-d-rrenmatt-4497_blasphemy_that-there-is-also-freedom-in-captivity_1288783.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/friedrich-d-rrenmatt-4497_blasphemy_that-there-is-also-freedom-in-captivity_1288783.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“That there is also freedom in captivity, only a prisoner can claim. Coming from a prison guard, this…” — Friedrich Durrenmatt",
                "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": "Friedrich Durrenmatt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "That there is also freedom in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/that-there-is-also-freedom-in-captivity-only-a-prisoner-can-claim/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/that-there-is-also-freedom-in-captivity-only-a-prisoner-can-claim/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
