--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no such thing as Freedom (though…" description: "\"There is no such thing as Freedom (though it is the most important condition of human life, after Humility, -which does not exist either). There is onl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/john-berryman-10841_ability_there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-though_915104.png" --- # There is no such thing as Freedom (though it is the most… ![“There is no such thing as Freedom (though it is the most important condition of human life, after Humility, -which does not exist either). There is only Slavery (walls around one) and absence-of-Slavery (ability to walk in any direction, or to remain still).” quote by John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/john-berryman-10841_ability_there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-though_915104.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/john-berryman-10841_ability_there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-though_915104.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/john-berryman-10841_ability_there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-though_915104.png) > “There is no such thing as Freedom (though it is the most important condition of human life, after Humility, -which does not exist either). There is only Slavery (walls around one) and absence-of-Slavery (ability to walk in any direction, or to remain still).” [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement argues that true freedom does not exist; only slavery (restrictions) and the opposite, freedom from restrictions, which is the real condition of human life. **In simple terms:** Freedom is an illusion; only constraints and their absence exist. Key Takeaway Seek to remove unnecessary constraints. Themes freedom constraint human condition Mood contemplative analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decision making - political activism - mindfulness practice - career choices Key Concepts philosophy existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate between necessary limits and oppression? - What does true freedom mean to you? A Different Perspective The definition may be too binary, ignoring nuanced degrees of autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Exist Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist-slavery-1371360/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-important-302410/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Thing Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-freedom-506349/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) ## Related quotes > [“Freedom may be the most important thing in life, but there's such a thing as too much freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/freedom-may-be-the-most-important-thing-in-life-but-there-s-such-a/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“she would be free of mundane care, she was a pure will towards right. She had sold herself, but she had a new freedom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/she-would-be-free-of-mundane-care-she-was-a-pure-will-towards-right/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [Every artist knows that there is no such thing as "freedom" in art. The first thing an artist does when he begins a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/every-artist-knows-that-there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-in-art-the/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [The best thing you can give someone is the freedom to make their own mind up - and then, if it's not working out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/the-best-thing-you-can-give-someone-is-the-freedom-to-make-their-own/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [“Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/forces-beyond-your-control-can-take-away-everything-you-possess/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [What a terrible thing could be freedom. Trees were free when they were uprooted by the wind; ships were free when they were torn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radclyffe-hall/what-a-terrible-thing-could-be-freedom-trees-were-free-when-they-were/) [Radclyffe Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radclyffe-hall/) > [There's no such thing as part freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/there-s-no-such-thing-as-part-freedom/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [In Czechoslovakia there is no such thing as freedom of the press. In the United States there is no such thing as freedom from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/in-czechoslovakia-there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-of-the-press-in/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [“When you want to fully isolate yourself from the madnesses of the people, find a wooden cottage in the middle of nowhere by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-you-want-to-fully-isolate-yourself-from-the-madnesses-of-the/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Freedom is not a constant attribute which we either "have" or "have not." In fact, there is no such thing as "freedom" except as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/freedom-is-not-a-constant-attribute-which-we-either-have-or-have-not/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Freedom is not something we have, there is no such thing as freedom. Freedom is a quality of our personality: we are more or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/freedom-is-not-something-we-have-there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Time is the very lens through which ye see—small and clear, as men see through the wrong end of a telescope—something that would otherwise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/time-is-the-very-lens-through-which-ye-see-small-and-clear-as-men-see/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“You wish to be free, but there is no such thing as freedom. You can redecorate dungeon to give illusion of freedom, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-crane/you-wish-to-be-free-but-there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-you-can/) [Carolyn Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-crane/) > [That thing is Freedom: the gift whereby ye most resemble your Maker and are yourselves part of eternal reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-thing-is-freedom-the-gift-whereby-ye-most-resemble-your-maker/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forces-beyond-your-control-can-take-away-everything-you-possess-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by John Berryman > [I didn't want to be like Yeats; I wanted to be Yeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/i-didn-t-want-to-be-like-yeats-i-wanted-to-be-yeats/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > [“Nouns, verbs do not exist for what I feel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/nouns-verbs-do-not-exist-for-what-i-feel/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > [Them lady poets must not marry, pal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/them-lady-poets-must-not-marry-pal/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > [We must travel in the direction of our fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/we-must-travel-in-the-direction-of-our-fear/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > [“Huffy Henry hid the day, unappeasable Henry sulked. I see his point,--a trying to put things over. It was the thought that they thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/huffy-henry-hid-the-day-unappeasable-henry-sulked-i-see-his-point-a/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > [These Songs are not meant to be understood, you understand. They are only meant to terrify & comfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/these-songs-are-not-meant-to-be-understood-you-understand-they-are/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > [something has been said for sobriety but very little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/something-has-been-said-for-sobriety-but-very-little/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > [“Springwater grow so thick it gonna clot and the pleasing ladies cease. I figure, yup, you is bad powers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/springwater-grow-so-thick-it-gonna-clot-and-the-pleasing-ladies-cease/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > [“The serious poet should seek to explore the 'sources' of these global nightmares-and to explore them not just in poetry, but in person. Poetry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/the-serious-poet-should-seek-to-explore-the-sources-of-these-global/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > [I conclude now I have no inner resources, because I am heavy bored. Peoples bore me, literature bores me, especially great literature,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/i-conclude-now-i-have-no-inner-resources-because-i-am-heavy-bored/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > [“However things hurt, men hurt worse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/however-things-hurt-men-hurt-worse/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > [Two daiquiris withdrew into a corner of a gorgeous room and one told the other a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/two-daiquiris-withdrew-into-a-corner-of-a-gorgeous-room-and-one-told/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > [I cry. Evil dissolves, & love, like foam; that love. Prattle of children powers me home, my heart claps like the swan's under a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/i-cry-evil-dissolves-love-like-foam-that-love-prattle-of-children/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > [“The Prayer of the Middle-Aged Man Amid the doctors in the Temple at twelve, between mother & host at Cana implored too soon, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/the-prayer-of-the-middle-aged-man-amid-the-doctors-in-the-temple-at/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > [I am so wise I had my mouth sewn shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/i-am-so-wise-i-had-my-mouth-sewn-shut/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) [Explore all 63 John Berryman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no such thing as Freedom (though it is the most important condition of human life, after Humility, -which does not exist either). There is only Slavery (walls around one) and absence-of-Slavery (ability to walk in any direction, or to remain still).", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Berryman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-though-it-is-the-most-important/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-though-it-is-the-most-important/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/john-berryman-10841_ability_there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-though_915104.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/john-berryman-10841_ability_there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-though_915104.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/john-berryman-10841_ability_there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-though_915104.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is no such thing as Freedom (though it is the most important condition of human life, after Humility…” — John Berryman", "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": "John Berryman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is no such thing as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-though-it-is-the-most-important/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-though-it-is-the-most-important/#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 } } ] } ```