--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Freedom is not only the absence of…" description: "\"Freedom is not only the absence of external restraints. It is also the absence of irresistible internal compulsions, unmanageable passion, and uncensor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/george-will-1177_absence_freedom-is-not-only-the-absence-of-exter_199661.png" --- # Freedom is not only the absence of external restraints. It… ![“Freedom is not only the absence of external restraints. It is also the absence of irresistible internal compulsions, unmanageable passion, and uncensorable highlights.” quote by George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/george-will-1177_absence_freedom-is-not-only-the-absence-of-exter_199661.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/george-will-1177_absence_freedom-is-not-only-the-absence-of-exter_199661.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/george-will-1177_absence_freedom-is-not-only-the-absence-of-exter_199661.png) > “Freedom is not only the absence of external restraints. It is also the absence of irresistible internal compulsions, unmanageable passion, and uncensorable highlights.” [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom includes both external liberty and freedom from inner compulsions, passions, and unfiltered thoughts. **In simple terms:** Freedom is more than lack of external constraints. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner discipline to truly feel free. Themes liberty psychology self‑control Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - therapy - mindfulness Key Concepts autonomy inner conflict mental health Questions to Reflect On - What internal habits limit your freedom? - How can you balance passion with self‑control? A Different Perspective External freedom is insufficient without internal regulation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) [Censorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/) [Compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-absence-1552340/) [Highlights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highlights/) [Internals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internals/) [Irresistible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irresistible/) [Irresistible Internal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irresistible-internal-2087762/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Passion Uncensorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion-uncensorable-2087763/) [Restraint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restraint/) [Restraints Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restraints-absence-2087760/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Unmanageable Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unmanageable-passion-2087761/) ## Related quotes > [Republicans define freedom as an absence of restraints imposed by government. Democrats define freedom as an absence of necessity, which government exists to reduce.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/republicans-define-freedom-as-an-absence-of-restraints-imposed-by/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [“Personal freedom is not the absence of inner constraint, but a realistic awareness of our motivations and the ability, in light of this knowledge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-richard-ganz/personal-freedom-is-not-the-absence-of-inner-constraint-but-a/) [Dr. Richard Ganz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-richard-ganz/) > [I think about freedom as not only as the absence of oppression but also the presence of justice and joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-think-about-freedom-as-not-only-as-the-absence-of-oppression-but/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Freedom is not the absence of obligation or restraint, but the freedom of movement within healthy, chosen parameters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/freedom-is-not-the-absence-of-obligation-or-restraint-but-the-freedom/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) > [The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/the-greatest-threat-to-freedom-is-the-absence-of-criticism/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [“We will never arrive to the notion of total freedom, that is, the absence of cause”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/we-will-never-arrive-to-the-notion-of-total-freedom-that-is-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism. Je Suis Charlie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-threat-to-freedom-is-the-absence-of-criticism-je-suis/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This concern with the basic condition of freedom -- the absence of physical constraint -- is unquestionably necessary, but is not all that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/this-concern-with-the-basic-condition-of-freedom-the-absence-of/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The early American knew that freedom was nothing more than the absence of external restraint on behavior; the government could not give you freedom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-chodorov/the-early-american-knew-that-freedom-was-nothing-more-than-the/) [Frank Chodorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-chodorov/) > [“Freedom, then, is not the absence of limitations and constraints but it is finding the right ones, those that fit our nature and liberate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/freedom-then-is-not-the-absence-of-limitations-and-constraints-but-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A common American error is to believe that freedom is the absence of state authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/a-common-american-error-is-to-believe-that-freedom-is-the-absence-of/) [Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/) > [“Freedom is the absence of influence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-embleton-black/freedom-is-the-absence-of-influence/) [Hugo Embleton-Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-embleton-black/) > [We examine and highlight the history of the African descendants in America, and know that each and every one of us has come this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-clarke/we-examine-and-highlight-the-history-of-the-african-descendants-in/) [Yvette Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-clarke/) > [The things in my songs are the edited highlights of my life. I don't go seeking out strange sexual experiences every day of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/the-things-in-my-songs-are-the-edited-highlights-of-my-life-i-don-t/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [Being blonde, for me, means never having to say: 'I'll have the honey-striped half-head of highlights for £200,' to a bored colourist in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-johnson/being-blonde-for-me-means-never-having-to-say-i-ll-have-the-honey/) [Rachel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-johnson/) ## More by George Will > [The average American expends more time becoming informed about choosing a car than choosing a candidate. 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