--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a clear truth that those who every…" description: "\"It is a clear truth that those who every day barter away other men's liberty will soon care little for their own.\" — James Otis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/james-otis-16854_barter_it-is-a-clear-truth-that-those-who-every_2514186.jpg" --- # It is a clear truth that those who every day barter away… ![“It is a clear truth that those who every day barter away other men's liberty will soon care little for their own.” quote by James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/james-otis-16854_barter_it-is-a-clear-truth-that-those-who-every_2514186.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/james-otis-16854_barter_it-is-a-clear-truth-that-those-who-every_2514186.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/james-otis-16854_barter_it-is-a-clear-truth-that-those-who-every_2514186.jpg) > “It is a clear truth that those who every day barter away other men's liberty will soon care little for their own.” [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Those who constantly deprive others of freedom eventually lose respect for their own liberty. **In simple terms:** Abusing others' freedom erodes one's own. Key Takeaway Guard others' rights to protect yours. Themes freedom rights morality politics Mood concerned reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - legislation - civil rights movements - public policy - community activism Key Concepts liberty ethical reciprocity social contract Questions to Reflect On - How does protecting others' rights benefit you? - What limits exist in this principle? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex power dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barter/) [Barter Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barter-away-1185674/) [Clear Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-truth-1185676/) [Day Barter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-barter-1185675/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Men Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-liberty-937214/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“You barter away so many pieces of yourself in a long term relationship. I'm not sure I remember which are mine or how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-alfieri/you-barter-away-so-many-pieces-of-yourself-in-a-long-term/) [Richard Alfieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-alfieri/) > [The colonists are by the law of nature free-born, as indeed all man are, white or black...It is a clear truth that those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/the-colonists-are-by-the-law-of-nature-free-born-as-indeed-all-man/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [The science of loving, yes, that's the only kind of science I want I'd barter away everything I possess to win it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-of-lisieux/the-science-of-loving-yes-that-s-the-only-kind-of-science-i-want-i-d/) [Therese of Lisieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-of-lisieux/) > [The issue here really is not whether international trade shall be free but whether or not it makes any sense for a country -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-issue-here-really-is-not-whether-international-trade-shall-be/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [My chief concern is to make clear the Truth which I have attained, to give an understanding of the Truth, which is the Truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/my-chief-concern-is-to-make-clear-the-truth-which-i-have-attained-to/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [But who will dare to speak the truth out clear? The few who anything of truth have learned, And foolishly did not keep truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/but-who-will-dare-to-speak-the-truth-out-clear-the-few-who-anything/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [What are wanted ...are not Constitutions and Revolutions, nor all sorts of Conferences and Congresses, nor the many ingenious devices for submarine navigation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/what-are-wanted-are-not-constitutions-and-revolutions-nor-all-sorts/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“When the spirit is clear, knowledge is enlightened... When the spirit is clear, truth is apparent... When the spirit is clear, habitual desires cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wen-tzu-chang/when-the-spirit-is-clear-knowledge-is-enlightened-when-the-spirit-is/) [Wen Tzu Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wen-tzu-chang/) > [I never expect men to give us liberty. No, women, we are not worth it until we take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltairine-de-cleyre/i-never-expect-men-to-give-us-liberty-no-women-we-are-not-worth-it/) [Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltairine-de-cleyre/) > [“Man and the State. Always must they be enemies, for men had been given freedom by God and the State hated God, and loathed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-caldwell/man-and-the-state-always-must-they-be-enemies-for-men-had-been-given/) [Taylor Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-caldwell/) > [How false is the conception, how frantic the pursuit, of that treacherous phantom which men call Liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/how-false-is-the-conception-how-frantic-the-pursuit-of-that-2/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Without children, men have more liberty to earn less - that is, they are free to pursue more fulfilling and less lucrative careers, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/without-children-men-have-more-liberty-to-earn-less-that-is-they-are/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [“We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men. If liberty means anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/we-have-now-sunk-to-a-depth-at-which-restatement-of-the-obvious-is-2/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Money appears as measure (in Homer, e.g. oxen) earlier than as medium of exchange, because in barter each commodity is still its own medium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/money-appears-as-measure-in-homer-e-g-oxen-earlier-than-as-medium-of/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Capitalism invariably boils down to barter between two willing parties, neither of whom uses force to work with the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/capitalism-invariably-boils-down-to-barter-between-two-willing/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) ## More by James Otis > [I do not say that, when brought to the test, I shall be invincible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/i-do-not-say-that-when-brought-to-the-test-i-shall-be-invincible/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [Now one of the most essential branches of English liberty, is the freedom of one's house. A man's house is his castle; and while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/now-one-of-the-most-essential-branches-of-english-liberty-is-the/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [These manly sentiments, in private life, make good citizens; in public life, the patriot and the hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/these-manly-sentiments-in-private-life-make-good-citizens-in-public/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [These manly sentiments, in private life, make the good citizen; in public life, the patriot and the hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/these-manly-sentiments-in-private-life-make-the-good-citizen-in/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [Dew depends not on Parliament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/dew-depends-not-on-parliament/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [ \[The passage of the Sugar Act\] set people a thinking, in six months, more than they had done in their whole lives before. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/the-passage-of-the-sugar-act-set-people-a-thinking-in-six-months-more/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [MAY it please your Honors: I was desired by one of the court to look into the books, and consider the question now before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/may-it-please-your-honors-i-was-desired-by-one-of-the-court-to-look/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [I pray God I may never be brought to the melancholy trial; but, if ever I should, it will then be known how far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/i-pray-god-i-may-never-be-brought-to-the-melancholy-trial-but-if-ever/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [One of the most essential branches of English liberty is the freedom of one's house. A man's house is his castle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/one-of-the-most-essential-branches-of-english-liberty-is-the-freedom/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [What must be the wealth that avarice, aided by power, cannot exhaust!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/what-must-be-the-wealth-that-avarice-aided-by-power-cannot-exhaust/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [Let the consequences be what they will, I am determined to proceed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/let-the-consequences-be-what-they-will-i-am-determined-to-proceed/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [And I take this opportunity to declare, that... I will to my dying day oppose with all the powers and faculties God has given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/and-i-take-this-opportunity-to-declare-that-i-will-to-my-dying-day/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [No parts of his Majesty's dominions can be taxed without their consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/no-parts-of-his-majesty-s-dominions-can-be-taxed-without-their-consent/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [I am forced to get my living by the labour of my hand; and the sweat of my brow... for bitter bread, earned under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/i-am-forced-to-get-my-living-by-the-labour-of-my-hand-and-the-sweat/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [An act against the Constitution is void; an act against natural equity is void.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/an-act-against-the-constitution-is-void-an-act-against-natural-equity/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) [Explore all 38 James Otis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) ## More Barter quotes > [Capitalism invariably boils down to barter between two willing parties, neither of whom uses force to work with the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/capitalism-invariably-boils-down-to-barter-between-two-willing/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [Money appears as measure (in Homer, e.g. oxen) earlier than as medium of exchange, because in barter each commodity is still its own medium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/money-appears-as-measure-in-homer-e-g-oxen-earlier-than-as-medium-of/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“What've you got to barter?" I pulled off my father's bag and peered inside. "A flashlight, matches-" "How about a sleeping bag?" he interrupted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-falls/what-ve-you-got-to-barter-i-pulled-off-my-father-s-bag-and-peered/) [Kat Falls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-falls/) > [I am convinced that most companies don't maximize their barter possibilities. Instead of aggressively reducing costs by trading their services with those of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mccormack/i-am-convinced-that-most-companies-don-t-maximize-their-barter/) [Mark McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mccormack/) > [Give love, give help, give service, and give any little thing you can, but keep out barter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/give-love-give-help-give-service-and-give-any-little-thing-you-can/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [When old men decided to barter young men for pride and profit, the transaction was called war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-deighton/when-old-men-decided-to-barter-young-men-for-pride-and-profit-the/) [Len Deighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-deighton/) > [Is it thy will that I should wax and wane, Barter my cloth of gold for hodden grey, And at thy pleasure weave that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/is-it-thy-will-that-i-should-wax-and-wane-barter-my-cloth-of-gold-for/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“In a basic agricultural society, it's easy enough to swap five chickens for a new dress or to pay a schoolteacher with a goat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wheelan/in-a-basic-agricultural-society-it-s-easy-enough-to-swap-five/) [Charles Wheelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wheelan/) > [The soul's Rialto hath its merchandise, I barter for curl upon that mart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/the-soul-s-rialto-hath-its-merchandise-i-barter-for-curl-upon-that/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [My mother is the sort of woman who not only can raise a chicken and roast it to moist perfection but, as she proved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamish-bowles/my-mother-is-the-sort-of-woman-who-not-only-can-raise-a-chicken-and/) [Hamish Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamish-bowles/) > [Organisms sip energy, because they have to work or barter for every single bit that they get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/organisms-sip-energy-because-they-have-to-work-or-barter-for-every/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [“With the breakdown of money economy the practice of international barter is becoming prevalent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/with-the-breakdown-of-money-economy-the-practice-of-international/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [“You barter away so many pieces of yourself in a long term relationship. I'm not sure I remember which are mine or how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-alfieri/you-barter-away-so-many-pieces-of-yourself-in-a-long-term/) [Richard Alfieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-alfieri/) > [Almost all of our relationships begin and most of them continue as forms of mutual exploitation, a mental or physical barter, to be terminated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/almost-all-of-our-relationships-begin-and-most-of-them-continue-as/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [To barter and lose is better than not to go forth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/to-barter-and-lose-is-better-than-not-to-go-forth/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) [Browse all 33 Barter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is a clear truth that those who every day barter away other men's liberty will soon care little for their own.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Otis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/it-is-a-clear-truth-that-those-who-every-day-barter-away-other-men-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barter" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/it-is-a-clear-truth-that-those-who-every-day-barter-away-other-men-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/james-otis-16854_barter_it-is-a-clear-truth-that-those-who-every_2514186.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/james-otis-16854_barter_it-is-a-clear-truth-that-those-who-every_2514186.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/james-otis-16854_barter_it-is-a-clear-truth-that-those-who-every_2514186.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is a clear truth that those who every day barter away other men's liberty will soon care little for their…” — James Otis", "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": "James Otis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is a clear truth that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/it-is-a-clear-truth-that-those-who-every-day-barter-away-other-men-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/it-is-a-clear-truth-that-those-who-every-day-barter-away-other-men-s/#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 } } ] } ```