--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everybody talks about freedom, citizens,\"…" description: "\"“Everybody talks about freedom, citizens,\" the big man said gently, seeming to draw upon that very sure source of personal knowledge again, \"but they d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/james-jones-13898_every-man_everybody-talks-about-freedom-citizens-t_2552917.png" --- # Everybody talks about freedom, citizens," the big man said… ![“Everybody talks about freedom, citizens," the big man said gently, seeming to draw upon that very sure source of personal knowledge again, "but they dont really want it. Half of them wants it but the other half dont. What they really want is to maintain an illusion of freedom in front of their…” quote by James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/james-jones-13898_every-man_everybody-talks-about-freedom-citizens-t_2552917.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/james-jones-13898_every-man_everybody-talks-about-freedom-citizens-t_2552917.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/james-jones-13898_every-man_everybody-talks-about-freedom-citizens-t_2552917.png) > ““Everybody talks about freedom, citizens," the big man said gently, seeming to draw upon that very sure source of personal knowledge again, "but they dont really want it. Half of them wants it but the other half dont. What they really want is to maintain an illusion of freedom in front of their wives and business associates. Its a satisfactory compromise, and as long they can have that they can get along without the other which is more expensive. The only trouble is, every man who declares himself free to his friends has to make a slave out of his wife and employees to keep up the illusion and prove it; the wife to be free in front of her bridgeclub has to command her Help, Husband and Heirs. It resolves itself into a battle; whoever wins, the other one loses. For every general in this world there have to be 6,000 privates.”” [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often claim freedom but seek only the appearance of it, sacrificing genuine autonomy for social acceptance. **In simple terms:** Freedom is often an illusion maintained for others. Key Takeaway Question what true freedom means. Themes freedom illusion social pressure authenticity Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - marriage - workplace - political movements Key Concepts philosophy psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Do you value appearance over authenticity? - How does societal expectation shape your sense of freedom? A Different Perspective Illusion of freedom can lead to personal oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) ## Related quotes > [“The illusion of freedom is just another sort of prison-”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mantchev/the-illusion-of-freedom-is-just-another-sort-of-prison/) [Lisa Mantchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mantchev/) > [If freedom is a requisite for human happiness, then all that’s necessary is to provide the illusion of freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-freedom-is-a-requisite-for-human-happiness-then-all-that-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When Reacher Gilt talks about freedom, he means his, not anyone else's.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/when-reacher-gilt-talks-about-freedom-he-means-his-not-anyone-else-s/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [When one makes a Revolution, one cannot mark time; one must always go forward - or go back. He who now talks about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/when-one-makes-a-revolution-one-cannot-mark-time-one-must-always-go/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Not everyone who says I love you.., truly loves The Prisoner all his talks about freedom !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/not-everyone-who-says-i-love-you-truly-loves-the-prisoner-all-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Freedom is living without government coercion. So when a politician talks about freedom for this group or that, ask yourself whether he is advocating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/freedom-is-living-without-government-coercion-so-when-a-politician/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [You know, when George Bush talks about freedom not being America's gift to world but God's gift to all humankind, it smells like market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/you-know-when-george-bush-talks-about-freedom-not-being-america-s/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [“Free zero-point energy doesn't exist in an illusion of freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/free-zero-point-energy-doesn-t-exist-in-an-illusion-of-freedom/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“You wish to be free, but there is no such thing as freedom. 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And if what that man did in his life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-ultimate-warrior/every-man-s-heart-one-day-beats-its-final-beat-his-lungs-breathe-a/) [The Ultimate Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-ultimate-warrior/) Browse all 3,342 Every man quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Everybody talks about freedom, citizens,\" the big man said gently, seeming to draw upon that very sure source of personal knowledge again, \"but they dont really want it. Half of them wants it but the other half dont. What they really want is to maintain an illusion of freedom in front of their wives and business associates. Its a satisfactory compromise, and as long they can have that they can get along without the other which is more expensive. The only trouble is, every man who declares himself free to his friends has to make a slave out of his wife and employees to keep up the illusion and prove it; the wife to be free in front of her bridgeclub has to command her Help, Husband and Heirs. It resolves itself into a battle; whoever wins, the other one loses. 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