--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can be bound by physical things, as I…" description: "\"You can be bound by physical things, as I am by certain sicknesses, but nevertheless you can still be free to recognize that all initiatives really com..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/george-woodcock-29318_am_you-can-be-bound-by-physical-things-as-i_1278955.jpg" --- # You can be bound by physical things, as I am by certain… ![“You can be bound by physical things, as I am by certain sicknesses, but nevertheless you can still be free to recognize that all initiatives really come from yourself if you don't depend upon structures of government or structures of any kind.” quote by George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/george-woodcock-29318_am_you-can-be-bound-by-physical-things-as-i_1278955.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/george-woodcock-29318_am_you-can-be-bound-by-physical-things-as-i_1278955.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/george-woodcock-29318_am_you-can-be-bound-by-physical-things-as-i_1278955.jpg) > “You can be bound by physical things, as I am by certain sicknesses, but nevertheless you can still be free to recognize that all initiatives really come from yourself if you don't depend upon structures of government or structures of any kind.” [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom lies in inner autonomy; external constraints don’t dictate one’s ability to act independently. **In simple terms:** Inner freedom despite external limits. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑reliance. Themes freedom autonomy self‑determination Mood thoughtful determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political activism - personal health challenges - creative work - spiritual practice Key Concepts inner liberty government dependence personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What internal resources sustain you? - How do you balance external constraints with inner freedom? A Different Perspective External structures can still influence outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [I'm from a family of six men, so I'm bound to be physical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cavill/i-m-from-a-family-of-six-men-so-i-m-bound-to-be-physical/) [Henry Cavill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cavill/) > [“To exist in each other’s souls so strongly that you are bound without a physical tie is the greatest mark of love…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-carlino/to-exist-in-each-other-s-souls-so-strongly-that-you-are-bound-without/) [Renée Carlino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-carlino/) > [During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet. I took the initiative in moving forward a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/during-my-service-in-the-united-states-congress-i-took-the-initiative/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [“Denying the facts is what enables people to hate and to persecute marginalized and threatened minority groups. Labeling the advocacy, educational and informational initiatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/denying-the-facts-is-what-enables-people-to-hate-and-to-persecute/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [Having a comic in the White House will assure stability in foreign relations. The world will continue to respond to foreign initiatives by saying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/having-a-comic-in-the-white-house-will-assure-stability-in-foreign/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [Disparity is Australia's worst social problem. Thousands of lives are slowly being crushed, while billions are wasted on thousands of little initiatives trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-forrest/disparity-is-australia-s-worst-social-problem-thousands-of-lives-are/) [Andrew Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-forrest/) > [“Do work that matters. Choose to participate in initiatives that will positively impact the world and help make a difference in your community.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/do-work-that-matters-choose-to-participate-in-initiatives-that-will/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Come up with initiatives that can give people more access to better and higher living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/come-up-with-initiatives-that-can-give-people-more-access-to-better/) Anyaele Sam Chiyson > [Place-based initiatives can provide a useful framework to judge our progress in raising people out of poverty. They allow us to see whether or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cisneros/place-based-initiatives-can-provide-a-useful-framework-to-judge-our/) [Henry Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cisneros/) > [“Charitable initiatives drive the future of our neighborhoods.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/charitable-initiatives-drive-the-future-of-our-neighborhoods/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The Trump administration, to its credit, has initiatives on housing. It has initiatives on child care. It does not have true initiatives in terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/the-trump-administration-to-its-credit-has-initiatives-on-housing-it/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [“You were saved not by work, but for work. Do it till all is done. By your Inventions, Innovations, Initiatives, Improvements, Involvements, Imaginations, Information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-were-saved-not-by-work-but-for-work-do-it-till-all-is-done-by/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Too many professional development initiatives are done to teachers - not for, with or by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/too-many-professional-development-initiatives-are-done-to-teachers/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [It is rather unusual for Italy to be at the forefront of pro-market initiatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-monti/it-is-rather-unusual-for-italy-to-be-at-the-forefront-of-pro-market/) [Mario Monti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-monti/) > [The Indian government has been taking some lead in several environmental initiatives, like the international solar alliance, many green initiatives in schools, lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-wangchuk/the-indian-government-has-been-taking-some-lead-in-several/) [Sonam Wangchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-wangchuk/) ## More by George Woodcock > [I suppose I'm led to do so by the fact of what happened to my contemporaries - people whom I've admired, people who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/i-suppose-i-m-led-to-do-so-by-the-fact-of-what-happened-to-my/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [I like to move among painters, mathematicians, psychologists, people who can tell me something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/i-like-to-move-among-painters-mathematicians-psychologists-people-who/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [I began even as a boy to realize how wide the world can be for a man of free intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/i-began-even-as-a-boy-to-realize-how-wide-the-world-can-be-for-a-man/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [It even has the same phraseology as the English orders of knighthood, companions and this sort of thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/it-even-has-the-same-phraseology-as-the-english-orders-of-knighthood/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [What I'm going to be given I gather is not the key to the city, which in many cities is the case. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/what-i-m-going-to-be-given-i-gather-is-not-the-key-to-the-city-which/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [Orwell was the sort of man who was full of grievances. He was very loyal. Once he got to know you, he was extremely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/orwell-was-the-sort-of-man-who-was-full-of-grievances-he-was-very/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [I don't believe in kicking away ladders. By that, I mean the ladders by which I ascended as a young writer, small magazines that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/i-don-t-believe-in-kicking-away-ladders-by-that-i-mean-the-ladders-by/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [My early wounds were the English school system among other things. It wasn't merely the discipline, it was the ways in which boys got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/my-early-wounds-were-the-english-school-system-among-other-things-it/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [I was allowed to wander where I could. Here is a case in which you search for your independence and allow something creative to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/i-was-allowed-to-wander-where-i-could-here-is-a-case-in-which-you/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [I was editing Canadian Literature. I didn't want to let Canadian Literature go, so they reached a nice compromise by which I received half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/i-was-editing-canadian-literature-i-didn-t-want-to-let-canadian/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [They decided that unpaid leave could only be granted through the decision of a council that consisted almost entirely of scientists who couldn't understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/they-decided-that-unpaid-leave-could-only-be-granted-through-the/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [My split with the university was over the fact that I had become involved with helping Tibetans in India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/my-split-with-the-university-was-over-the-fact-that-i-had-become/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [It doesn't really mean a great deal of difference to a life. You live as you wish to do and if a job is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/it-doesn-t-really-mean-a-great-deal-of-difference-to-a-life-you-live/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [I was unpopular at school just because I was an intellectual. I always answered all the questions off the top of my head but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/i-was-unpopular-at-school-just-because-i-was-an-intellectual-i-always/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [I believe in that connection between freedom and the city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/i-believe-in-that-connection-between-freedom-and-the-city/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) [Explore all 18 George Woodcock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) ## More Am quotes > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/) [Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) Browse all 9,589 Am quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can be bound by physical things, as I am by certain sicknesses, but nevertheless you can still be free to recognize that all initiatives really come from yourself if you don't depend upon structures of government or structures of any kind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Woodcock" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/you-can-be-bound-by-physical-things-as-i-am-by-certain-sicknesses-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Am" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/you-can-be-bound-by-physical-things-as-i-am-by-certain-sicknesses-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/george-woodcock-29318_am_you-can-be-bound-by-physical-things-as-i_1278955.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/george-woodcock-29318_am_you-can-be-bound-by-physical-things-as-i_1278955.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/george-woodcock-29318_am_you-can-be-bound-by-physical-things-as-i_1278955.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can be bound by physical things, as I am by certain sicknesses, but nevertheless you can still be free…” — George Woodcock", "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": "George Woodcock", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can be bound by physical...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/you-can-be-bound-by-physical-things-as-i-am-by-certain-sicknesses-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/you-can-be-bound-by-physical-things-as-i-am-by-certain-sicknesses-but/#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 } } ] } ```