--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He that has his chains knocked off, and…" description: "\"He that has his chains knocked off, and the prison doors set open to him, is perfectly at liberty, because he may either go or stay, as he best likes; ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/235/john-locke-814_chains_he-that-has-his-chains-knocked-off-and-t_1331289.png" --- # He that has his chains knocked off, and the prison doors… ![“He that has his chains knocked off, and the prison doors set open to him, is perfectly at liberty, because he may either go or stay, as he best likes; though his preference be determined to stay, by the darkness of the night, or illness of the weather, or want of other lodging.” quote by John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/235/john-locke-814_chains_he-that-has-his-chains-knocked-off-and-t_1331289.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/235/john-locke-814_chains_he-that-has-his-chains-knocked-off-and-t_1331289.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/235/john-locke-814_chains_he-that-has-his-chains-knocked-off-and-t_1331289.png) > “He that has his chains knocked off, and the prison doors set open to him, is perfectly at liberty, because he may either go or stay, as he best likes; though his preference be determined to stay, by the darkness of the night, or illness of the weather, or want of other lodging.” [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom is true when one can choose to stay or leave, regardless of external constraints. **In simple terms:** Freedom is choice despite constraints. Key Takeaway Recognize that liberty includes the option to stay. Themes freedom choice autonomy Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal decisions - travel - health crises - weather conditions Key Concepts political philosophy liberalism Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel you can truly choose to stay or go? - What external factors influence your decisions? A Different Perspective Even with options, external pressures may limit true freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Determined Stay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined-stay-1116186/) [Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Liberty Stay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty-stay-4467455/) [Likes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likes/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Perfectly Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectly-liberty-4467456/) [Preference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preference/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Prison Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison-doors-2274952/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Weather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weather/) ## Related quotes > [When the prison doors are opened, the real dragon will fly out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ho-chi-minh/when-the-prison-doors-are-opened-the-real-dragon-will-fly-out/) [Ho Chi Minh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ho-chi-minh/) > [“As long as you stay determined, you will stay focused and you will succeed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-bell/as-long-as-you-stay-determined-you-will-stay-focused-and-you-will/) [Carol Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-bell/) > [“But eleven-year-old Max Rosen was determined to stay alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/but-eleven-year-old-max-rosen-was-determined-to-stay-alive/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [No man will be kept in hell loner than is necessary to bring him to a fitness for something better. 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You have women who don't like shorter guys. You have women who like taller guys. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sevyn-streeter/i-feel-like-everyone-has-a-preference-you-have-women-who-don-t-like/) [Sevyn Streeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sevyn-streeter/) ## More by John Locke > [I thought that I had no time for faith nor time to pray, then I saw an armless man saying his Rosary with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-thought-that-i-had-no-time-for-faith-nor-time-to-pray-then-i-saw-an/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [I pretend not to teach, but to inquire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-pretend-not-to-teach-but-to-inquire/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [If we trace the progress of our minds, and with attention observe how it repeats, adds together, and unites its simple ideas received from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/if-we-trace-the-progress-of-our-minds-and-with-attention-observe-how/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Thus parents, by humouring and cockering them when little, corrupt the principles of nature in their children, and wonder afterwards to taste the bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/thus-parents-by-humouring-and-cockering-them-when-little-corrupt-the/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [ “\[M\]an is not permitted without censure to follow his own thoughts in the search of truth, when they lead him ever so little out… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/m-an-is-not-permitted-without-censure-to-follow-his-own-thoughts-in/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Fashion for the most part is nothing but the ostentation of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/fashion-for-the-most-part-is-nothing-but-the-ostentation-of-riches/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [When we know our own strength, we shall the better know what to undertake with hopes of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/when-we-know-our-own-strength-we-shall-the-better-know-what-to/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/every-man-has-a-property-in-his-own-person-this-nobody-has-a-right-to/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“Earthly minds, like mud-walls, resist the strongest batteries: And though perhaps sometimes the force of a clear argument may make some impression, yet they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/earthly-minds-like-mud-walls-resist-the-strongest-batteries-and/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“To avoid this state of war (wherein there is no appeal but to heaven, and wherein every the least difference is apt to end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/to-avoid-this-state-of-war-wherein-there-is-no-appeal-but-to-heaven/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [If by gaining knowledge we destroy our health, we labour for a thing that will be useless in our hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/if-by-gaining-knowledge-we-destroy-our-health-we-labour-for-a-thing/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“don’t let the things you don’t have prevent you from using the things you do have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/don-t-let-the-things-you-don-t-have-prevent-you-from-using-the-things/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Power to do good is the true and lawful act of aspiring; for good thoughts (though God accept them), yet towards men are little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/power-to-do-good-is-the-true-and-lawful-act-of-aspiring-for-good/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [The body of People may with Respect resist intolerable Tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-body-of-people-may-with-respect-resist-intolerable-tyranny/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Anger is uneasiness or discomposure of the mind upon the receipt of any injury, with a present purpose of revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/anger-is-uneasiness-or-discomposure-of-the-mind-upon-the-receipt-of/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) [Explore all 355 John Locke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) ## More Chains quotes > [Unchecked, the new tolerance will sooner or later put many people in chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/unchecked-the-new-tolerance-will-sooner-or-later-put-many-people-in/) [D. 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