--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We say, “I will,” and “I will not,” and…" description: "\"“We say, “I will,” and “I will not,” and imagine ourselves (though we obey the orders of some prosaic person every day) our own masters, when the truth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/341/gene-wolfe-2530_every-day_we-say-i-will-and-i-will-not-and-imagine_2866407.jpg" --- # We say, “I will,” and “I will not,” and imagine ourselves… ![“We say, “I will,” and “I will not,” and imagine ourselves (though we obey the orders of some prosaic person every day) our own masters, when the truth is that our masters are sleeping. One wakes within us and we are ridden like beasts, though the rider is but some hitherto unguessed part of…” quote by Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/341/gene-wolfe-2530_every-day_we-say-i-will-and-i-will-not-and-imagine_2866407.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/341/gene-wolfe-2530_every-day_we-say-i-will-and-i-will-not-and-imagine_2866407.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/341/gene-wolfe-2530_every-day_we-say-i-will-and-i-will-not-and-imagine_2866407.jpg) > ““We say, “I will,” and “I will not,” and imagine ourselves (though we obey the orders of some prosaic person every day) our own masters, when the truth is that our masters are sleeping. One wakes within us and we are ridden like beasts, though the rider is but some hitherto unguessed part of ourselves.”” [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We imagine freedom, yet our subconscious drives us like hidden forces we barely recognize. **In simple terms:** Unconscious forces shape our perceived freedom. Key Takeaway Explore hidden motivations. Themes freedom self subconscious identity Mood reflective intriguing Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - therapy - creative writing Key Concepts philosophy psychology literary analysis Questions to Reflect On - What hidden parts of yourself influence decisions? - How can you recognize internal 'masters'? A Different Perspective Self-awareness is difficult to achieve without guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Imagine Obey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine-obey-3897233/) [Masters Sleeping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters-sleeping-3897232/) [Masters Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters-truth-2270015/) [Obey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obey/) [Truth Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-masters-3897234/) ## Related quotes > [We are not masters of the truth which is borne in upon us: it overpowers us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/we-are-not-masters-of-the-truth-which-is-borne-in-upon-us-it/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [All reform aims, in some one particular, to let the soul have its way through us; in other words, to engage us to obey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/all-reform-aims-in-some-one-particular-to-let-the-soul-have-its-way/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Woman's great mission is to train immature, weak and ignorant creatures to obey the laws of God; the physical, the intellectual, the social and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-beecher/woman-s-great-mission-is-to-train-immature-weak-and-ignorant/) [Catharine Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-beecher/) > [The surest source of destruction to men is to obey themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-surest-source-of-destruction-to-men-is-to-obey-themselves/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“Knowledge is not necessary for obedience, nor doth information replace faith. 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