--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It must be freely admitted that there is…" description: "\"“It must be freely admitted that there is a sort of circle here from which it seems impossible to escape. In the order of efficient causes we assume ou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/196/immanuel-kant-532_commandments_it-must-be-freely-admitted-that-there-is_1257799.jpg" --- # It must be freely admitted that there is a sort of circle… ![“It must be freely admitted that there is a sort of circle here from which it seems impossible to escape. In the order of efficient causes we assume ourselves free, in order that in the order of ends we may conceive ourselves as subject to these laws because we have attributed to ourselves freedom…” quote by Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/196/immanuel-kant-532_commandments_it-must-be-freely-admitted-that-there-is_1257799.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/196/immanuel-kant-532_commandments_it-must-be-freely-admitted-that-there-is_1257799.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/196/immanuel-kant-532_commandments_it-must-be-freely-admitted-that-there-is_1257799.jpg) > ““It must be freely admitted that there is a sort of circle here from which it seems impossible to escape. In the order of efficient causes we assume ourselves free, in order that in the order of ends we may conceive ourselves as subject to these laws because we have attributed to ourselves freedom of will; for freedom and self-legislation of will are both autonomy...”” [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Kant argues that we claim freedom in causality but feel bound by moral ends, creating a paradox of autonomy and determinism. **In simple terms:** We feel free yet bound by moral laws, a paradox of autonomy. Key Takeaway Recognize the tension between freedom and moral responsibility. Themes philosophy autonomy determinism morality Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical theoretical When to use this quote - ethical decision making - personal responsibility - legal judgments - psychological introspection Key Concepts free will causality self‑legislation Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile feeling free with moral obligations? - Can autonomy exist without external constraints? A Different Perspective The paradox may overlook unconscious influences on choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attributed Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attributed-freedom-3986963/) [Autonomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomy/) [Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-self-521140/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Legislation Autonomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislation-autonomy-3986962/) [Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules/) [Self Legislation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-legislation-3986964/) ## Related quotes > [Men will not understand … that when they fulfil their duties to men, they fulfil thereby God's commandments; that they are consequently always in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/men-will-not-understand-that-when-they-fulfil-their-duties-to-men/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [ “...\[T\]he sublimity and intrinsic dignity of the command in duty are so much the more evident, the less the subjective impulses favor it and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/t-he-sublimity-and-intrinsic-dignity-of-the-command-in-duty-are-so/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [A friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be your self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/a-friend-is-someone-who-lets-you-have-total-freedom-to-be-your-self/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be your self...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/a-friend-is-someone-who-gives-you-total-freedom-to-be-your-self/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [He who seeks freedom for anything but freedom's self is made to be a slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/he-who-seeks-freedom-for-anything-but-freedom-s-self-is-made-to-be-a/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [America is the only nation in the world based on an idea - freedom and self-government - so if we don't understand that idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/america-is-the-only-nation-in-the-world-based-on-an-idea-freedom-and/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Ultimately there can be no freedom for self unless it is vouchsafed for others; there can be no security where there is fear, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/ultimately-there-can-be-no-freedom-for-self-unless-it-is-vouchsafed/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [“When we learn to live well in this life with nothing left unsaid or undone we find peace, freedom and full self-expression. 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He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/when-ruben-talked-about-spiritual-freedom-and-self-awareness-and-how/) [Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/) > [A strong human spirit with control over appetites of the flesh is master over emotions and passions and not a slave to them. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/a-strong-human-spirit-with-control-over-appetites-of-the-flesh-is/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [Poverty is about low, self-esteem and a lack of role models and opportunities. Without money, people resort to de-dignifying activities in order to support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hope-bryant/poverty-is-about-low-self-esteem-and-a-lack-of-role-models-and/) [John Hope Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hope-bryant/) > [Movements toward freedom and the self-respect that comes from something other than what people think is their most important feature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/movements-toward-freedom-and-the-self-respect-that-comes-from/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Do not desire, for what you desire you get, and with it comes terrible bondage. It is nothing but bringing "noses on us," as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/do-not-desire-for-what-you-desire-you-get-and-with-it-comes-terrible/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More by Immanuel Kant > [Even if a civil society were to be dissolved by the consent of all its members (e.g., if a people inhabiting an island decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/even-if-a-civil-society-were-to-be-dissolved-by-the-consent-of-all/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [How then is perfection to be sought? Wherein lies our hope? In education, and in nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/how-then-is-perfection-to-be-sought-wherein-lies-our-hope-in/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Heaven has given human beings three things to balance the odds of life: hope, sleep, and laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/heaven-has-given-human-beings-three-things-to-balance-the-odds-of/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Beauty presents an indeterminate concept of Understanding, the sublime an indeterminate concept of Reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/beauty-presents-an-indeterminate-concept-of-understanding-the-sublime/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Freedom is that faculty that enlarges the usefulness of all other faculties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/freedom-is-that-faculty-that-enlarges-the-usefulness-of-all-other/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Philosophical knowledge is the knowledge gained by reason from concepts ; mathematical knowledge is the knowledge gained by reason from the construction of concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/philosophical-knowledge-is-the-knowledge-gained-by-reason-from/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [A categorical imperative would be one which represented an action as objectively necessary in itself, without reference to any other purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/a-categorical-imperative-would-be-one-which-represented-an-action-as/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [When I could have used a wife, I could not support one; and when I could support one, I no longer needed any](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/when-i-could-have-used-a-wife-i-could-not-support-one-and-when-i/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Enlightenment is the liberation of man from his self-caused state of minority... Supere aude! Dare to use your own understanding!is thus the motto of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/enlightenment-is-the-liberation-of-man-from-his-self-caused-state-of/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [The ideal of the supreme being is nothing but a regulative principle of reason which directs us to look upon all connection in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/the-ideal-of-the-supreme-being-is-nothing-but-a-regulative-principle/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“Jeg skal alltid handle slik at den regelen jeg handler etter kunne gjelde som allmenn lov.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/jeg-skal-alltid-handle-slik-at-den-regelen-jeg-handler-etter-kunne/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Deaths, births, and marriages, considering how much they are separately dependent on the freedom of the human will, should seem to be subject to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/deaths-births-and-marriages-considering-how-much-they-are-separately/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [It is precisely in knowing its limits that philosophy consists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/it-is-precisely-in-knowing-its-limits-that-philosophy-consists/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [A society that is not willing to demand a life of somebody who has taken somebody else’s life is simply immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/a-society-that-is-not-willing-to-demand-a-life-of-somebody-who-has/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [. . . as to moral feeling, this supposed special sense, the appeal to it is indeed superficial when those who cannot think believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/as-to-moral-feeling-this-supposed-special-sense-the-appeal-to-it-is/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) [Explore all 476 Immanuel Kant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) ## More Autonomy quotes > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) > [“The idea of autonomy denies that we are born into a world that existed prior to us. It posits an essential aloneness; an autonomous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-b-crawford/the-idea-of-autonomy-denies-that-we-are-born-into-a-world-that/) [Matthew B. Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-b-crawford/) > [It’s hard to feel attracted to someone who has abandoned her sense of autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/it-s-hard-to-feel-attracted-to-someone-who-has-abandoned-her-sense-of/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [The first step toward maintaining autonomy in any programmed environment is to be aware that there's programming going on. It's as simple as understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/the-first-step-toward-maintaining-autonomy-in-any-programmed/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [Autonomy is impossible as long as one is driven by anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/autonomy-is-impossible-as-long-as-one-is-driven-by-anything/) [Gabor Mate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [“Father had stretched out his long legs and was tilting back in his chair. Mother sat with her knees crossed, in blue slacks, smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/father-had-stretched-out-his-long-legs-and-was-tilting-back-in-his/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Throughout the last century there were multiple attempts at giving Afghan women more autonomy, to change marriage laws, to abolish the practice of bride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/throughout-the-last-century-there-were-multiple-attempts-at-giving/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [We could encourage the best qualities of youthfulness - curiosity, adventure, resilience, the capacity for surprising insight simply by being more flexible about time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/we-could-encourage-the-best-qualities-of-youthfulness-curiosity/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [“She isn't anybody's,' Rook said darkly. 'Son. she's not yours, either," Sarah Fleet said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaida-jones/she-isn-t-anybody-s-rook-said-darkly-son-she-s-not-yours-either-sarah/) [Jaida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaida-jones/) > [The Palestinian Arabs will have their autonomy, we will have our security. We shall live together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/the-palestinian-arabs-will-have-their-autonomy-we-will-have-our/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [Autonomy means women defining themselves and the values by which they will live, and beginning to think of institutional arrangements which will order their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/autonomy-means-women-defining-themselves-and-the-values-by-which-they/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [“Autonomous people assert themselves against the status quo. They don't accept the prevailing opinion just because it's the one given to them. 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If that standard is not to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-civil-magistrate-cannot-function-without-some-ethical-guidance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Who hath desires must ever fearful be; Who lives in fear cannot be counted free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burton/who-hath-desires-must-ever-fearful-be-who-lives-in-fear-cannot-be/) [Robert Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burton/) [Browse all 418 Autonomy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It must be freely admitted that there is a sort of circle here from which it seems impossible to escape. 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