--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we acknowledge the kingdom of the…" description: "\"When we acknowledge the kingdom of the self, we will no longer accept slavery either for ourselves or for others, no matter how it is disguised.\" — Ger..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/gerry-spence-9080_acceptance_when-we-acknowledge-the-kingdom-of-the-s_2135817.jpg" --- # When we acknowledge the kingdom of the self, we will no… ![“When we acknowledge the kingdom of the self, we will no longer accept slavery either for ourselves or for others, no matter how it is disguised.” quote by Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/gerry-spence-9080_acceptance_when-we-acknowledge-the-kingdom-of-the-s_2135817.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/gerry-spence-9080_acceptance_when-we-acknowledge-the-kingdom-of-the-s_2135817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/gerry-spence-9080_acceptance_when-we-acknowledge-the-kingdom-of-the-s_2135817.jpg) > “When we acknowledge the kingdom of the self, we will no longer accept slavery either for ourselves or for others, no matter how it is disguised.” [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing personal autonomy eliminates acceptance of oppression, whether overt or subtle. **In simple terms:** Self‑recognition ends slavery. Key Takeaway Advocate for personal and others’ freedom. Themes freedom self‑awareness justice Mood determined empathetic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - human rights workshops - mental health counseling - community organizing Key Concepts autonomy ethical philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What freedoms do you take for granted? - How can you support others’ autonomy? A Different Perspective Oppressive systems can be deeply embedded and invisible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-slavery-3445523/) [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Acknowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledge/) [Acknowledge Kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledge-kingdom-4424548/) [Kingdom Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom-self-459901/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Slavery Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery-matter-4424547/) ## Related quotes > [“It is easier for people to accept slavery if they realize that they actually have paid for it. - On Slavery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamine-pearlheart/it-is-easier-for-people-to-accept-slavery-if-they-realize-that-they/) [Lamine Pearlheart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamine-pearlheart/) > [How can one be compelled to accept slavery? I simply refuse to do the master's bidding. He may torture me, break my bones to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/how-can-one-be-compelled-to-accept-slavery-i-simply-refuse-to-do-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Before man attempts to solve the secrets of the Universe without, he should master the Universe within—the Kingdom of the Self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-ramacharaka/before-man-attempts-to-solve-the-secrets-of-the-universe-without-he-2/) [Yogi Ramacharaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-ramacharaka/) > [The kingdom of self tends to be more focused on what the hands can touch than what the heart should embrace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/the-kingdom-of-self-tends-to-be-more-focused-on-what-the-hands-can/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [“The kingdom of self is heavily defended territory. Post-Eden”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/the-kingdom-of-self-is-heavily-defended-territory-post-eden/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“God’s Kingdom is not built on the profit motive. The world’s favorite verb is get. The verb of the Christian is give. Self-interest is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/god-s-kingdom-is-not-built-on-the-profit-motive-the-world-s-favorite/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“The bottom line: each of our lives is shaped by the war between the kingdom of god and the kingdom of self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/the-bottom-line-each-of-our-lives-is-shaped-by-the-war-between-the/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [“Before man attempts to solve the secrets of the Universe without, he should master the Universe within—the Kingdom of the Self. When he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-ramacharaka/before-man-attempts-to-solve-the-secrets-of-the-universe-without-he/) [Yogi Ramacharaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-ramacharaka/) > [The holiness of the kingdom of God must be preserved. If Jesus refused to acknowledge and fight for Israel as God's favored nation- even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/the-holiness-of-the-kingdom-of-god-must-be-preserved-if-jesus-refused/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Each of us has been endowed with the perfect power to be free. Slavery is a state of mind that fails to acknowledge the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/each-of-us-has-been-endowed-with-the-perfect-power-to-be-free-slavery/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [You can't go into games with any fear. You can acknowledge a good team but you can't go in worrying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/you-can-t-go-into-games-with-any-fear-you-can-acknowledge-a-good-team/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/on-thanksgiving-day-we-acknowledge-our-dependence/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [The only way to ease our fear and be truly happy is to acknowledge our fear and look deeply at its source. Instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-way-to-ease-our-fear-and-be-truly-happy-is-to-acknowledge/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. It acknowledges the reality that the evil we observe in the world is also present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/i-m-a-christian-because-christianity-names-and-addresses-sin-it/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) [Frank B. Wilderson III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-b-wilderson-iii/) ## More by Gerry Spence > [The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. The function of the law is to keep those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-function-of-the-law-is-not-to-provide-justice-or-to-preserve/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Each of us has been endowed with the perfect power to be free. Slavery is a state of mind that fails to acknowledge the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/each-of-us-has-been-endowed-with-the-perfect-power-to-be-free-slavery/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [When you are faced with prejudice, logic and justice are impotent. Still, we may have an obligation to argue directly into the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/when-you-are-faced-with-prejudice-logic-and-justice-are-impotent/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Under any religion, the preestablished impersonal code transcends the right of the individual to explore, experience, and marvel at the mysteries of his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/under-any-religion-the-preestablished-impersonal-code-transcends-the/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [The new and most powerful union of all will be a union of one one man, one woman, one worker with special skills, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-new-and-most-powerful-union-of-all-will-be-a-union-of-one-one-man/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Once slavery in America was not seen as radical. It became, instead, a revolutionary idea that slaves should be freed. When we have lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/once-slavery-in-america-was-not-seen-as-radical-it-became-instead-a/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Love is how we feel toward those who show us that which is lovable about ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/love-is-how-we-feel-toward-those-who-show-us-that-which-is-lovable/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [ Government \[is\] operated by deeply embedded, hopelessly entangled bureaus where nothing is accomplished because the function of the bureau is to intercept every living… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/government-is-operated-by-deeply-embedded-hopelessly-entangled/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [What the insurance companies have done is to reverse the business so that the public at large insures the insurance companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/what-the-insurance-companies-have-done-is-to-reverse-the-business-so/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [A new fascism promises security from the terror of crime. All that is required is that we take away the criminals' rights - which,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/a-new-fascism-promises-security-from-the-terror-of-crime-all-that-is/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Nearly every day on the television set the hero cop breaks into the bad guy's house and beats a confession out of him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/nearly-every-day-on-the-television-set-the-hero-cop-breaks-into-the/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Our prejudices - we all have them - are part of our personality structure. The problem is that our prejudices may lie lurking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/our-prejudices-we-all-have-them-are-part-of-our-personality-structure/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Prejudice locks the mind. Nothing can enter. Nothing true can escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/prejudice-locks-the-mind-nothing-can-enter-nothing-true-can-escape/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Our willingness to openly reveal our feelings in our argument nearly always builds our credibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/our-willingness-to-openly-reveal-our-feelings-in-our-argument-nearly/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [. . . in America, we have achieved the Orwellian prediction - enslaved, the people have been programmed to love their bondage and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/in-america-we-have-achieved-the-orwellian-prediction-enslaved-the/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) [Explore all 75 Gerry Spence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we acknowledge the kingdom of the self, we will no longer accept slavery either for ourselves or for others, no matter how it is disguised.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gerry Spence" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/when-we-acknowledge-the-kingdom-of-the-self-we-will-no-longer-accept/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acceptance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/when-we-acknowledge-the-kingdom-of-the-self-we-will-no-longer-accept/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/gerry-spence-9080_acceptance_when-we-acknowledge-the-kingdom-of-the-s_2135817.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/gerry-spence-9080_acceptance_when-we-acknowledge-the-kingdom-of-the-s_2135817.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/gerry-spence-9080_acceptance_when-we-acknowledge-the-kingdom-of-the-s_2135817.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we acknowledge the kingdom of the self, we will no longer accept slavery either for ourselves or for…” — Gerry Spence", "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": "Gerry Spence", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When we acknowledge the kingdom of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/when-we-acknowledge-the-kingdom-of-the-self-we-will-no-longer-accept/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/when-we-acknowledge-the-kingdom-of-the-self-we-will-no-longer-accept/#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 } } ] } ```