--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Either be wholly slaves or wholly free." description: "\"Either be wholly slaves or wholly free.\" — John Dryden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/732/john-dryden-491_freedom_either-be-wholly-slaves-or-wholly-free-1_1468709.jpg" --- # Either be wholly slaves or wholly free. ![“Either be wholly slaves or wholly free.” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/732/john-dryden-491_freedom_either-be-wholly-slaves-or-wholly-free-1_1468709.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/732/john-dryden-491_freedom_either-be-wholly-slaves-or-wholly-free-1_1468709.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/732/john-dryden-491_freedom_either-be-wholly-slaves-or-wholly-free-1_1468709.jpg) > “Either be wholly slaves or wholly free.” [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A binary view of liberty: either complete subjugation or total autonomy, leaving no middle ground. **In simple terms:** Either total control or total freedom. Key Takeaway Recognize and navigate shades of freedom. Themes freedom control choice Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace - political activism Key Concepts political philosophy binary thinking Questions to Reflect On - Do you see any middle ground? - How does this view affect your decisions? A Different Perspective Freedom often exists on a spectrum, not just extremes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves/) [Slaves Wholly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves-wholly-3687058/) [Wholly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wholly/) [Wholly Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wholly-free-245628/) [Wholly Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wholly-slaves-5323842/) ## Related quotes > [The virtue of female slaves is wholly at the mercy of irresponsible tyrants, and women are bought and sold in our slave markets, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moore-grimke/the-virtue-of-female-slaves-is-wholly-at-the-mercy-of-irresponsible/) [Sarah Moore Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moore-grimke/) > [Hinduism is wholly free from the strange obsession of some faiths that the acceptance of a particular religious metaphysics is necessary for salvation, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/hinduism-is-wholly-free-from-the-strange-obsession-of-some-faiths/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [“I have never paid for fornication, and I don't intend to begin with you. When you come to me, and come to me you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-tarr/i-have-never-paid-for-fornication-and-i-don-t-intend-to-begin-with/) [Hope Tarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-tarr/) > [Every man is wholly honest to himself and to God, but not to any one else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/every-man-is-wholly-honest-to-himself-and-to-god-but-not-to-any-one/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Only the half-mad are wholly alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/only-the-half-mad-are-wholly-alive/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [I've been making bronze sculptures for a long time. My sculptures are wholly unsuccessful and uncommercial. 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She was wholly her own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ahdieh/she-was-not-a-half-she-was-wholly-her-own/) [Renee Ahdieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ahdieh/) > [I ascribe my change wholly to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-ascribe-my-change-wholly-to-god/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [He defined himself almost wholly in the negative: It was not who he was, it was who he was not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bohjalian/he-defined-himself-almost-wholly-in-the-negative-it-was-not-who-he/) [Chris Bohjalian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bohjalian/) > [Love is either wholly folly, or fully holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-burch/love-is-either-wholly-folly-or-fully-holy/) [Michael R. Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-burch/) ## More by John Dryden > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/trust-on-and-think-to-morrow-will-repay-to-morrow-s-falser-than-the/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Among our crimes oblivion may be set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/among-our-crimes-oblivion-may-be-set/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-after-hearing-what-our-church-can-say-if-still-our-reason-runs/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave deserves the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/happy-happy-happy-pair-none-but-the-brave-deserves-the-fair/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [God never made his work for man to mend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/god-never-made-his-work-for-man-to-mend/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/reason-to-rule-mercy-to-forgive-the-first-is-law-the-last-prerogative/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Stiff opinion, always in the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/stiff-opinion-always-in-the-wrong/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [He with a graceful pride, While his rider every hand survey'd, Sprung loose, and flew into an escapade; Not moving forward, yet with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/he-with-a-graceful-pride-while-his-rider-every-hand-survey-d-sprung/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-s-virtues-i-have-commended-as-freely-as-i-have-taxed-their-crimes/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light; but lucky men are favorites of heaven; all own the chief, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-without-success-is-a-fair-picture-shown-by-an-ill-light-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/zeal-the-blind-conductor-of-the-will/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“Night came, but unattended with repose. Alone she came, no sleep their eyes to close. Alone and black she came; no friendly stars arose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/night-came-but-unattended-with-repose-alone-she-came-no-sleep-their/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Explore all 520 John Dryden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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