--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Free will is \"corrupted nature's deformed…" description: "\"Free will is \"corrupted nature's deformed darling, the Pallas or beloved self-conception of darkened minds\"\" — John Owen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/john-owen-1415_beloved_free-will-is-corrupted-nature-s-deformed_2938756.png" --- # Free will is "corrupted nature's deformed darling, the… ![“Free will is "corrupted nature's deformed darling, the Pallas or beloved self-conception of darkened minds"” quote by John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/john-owen-1415_beloved_free-will-is-corrupted-nature-s-deformed_2938756.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/john-owen-1415_beloved_free-will-is-corrupted-nature-s-deformed_2938756.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/john-owen-1415_beloved_free-will-is-corrupted-nature-s-deformed_2938756.png) > “Free will is "corrupted nature's deformed darling, the Pallas or beloved self-conception of darkened minds"” [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human freedom is portrayed as a distorted creation, shaped by selfish desires and flawed self‑image. **In simple terms:** Free will is a corrupted self‑concept. Key Takeaway Recognize and guard against selfish motives. Themes theity self‑deception spirituality Mood reflective serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal decision making - ethical leadership - spiritual counseling Key Concepts Theology psychology moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑image influence perceived freedom? - Can true freedom exist without self‑deception? A Different Perspective Free will may be constrained by external circumstances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beloved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beloved/) [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Free will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-will/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [Democracy has now become corrupted by the nature of the funders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/democracy-has-now-become-corrupted-by-the-nature-of-the-funders/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks, Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass; I, that am rudely stamped, and want love's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/but-i-that-am-not-shaped-for-sportive-tricks-nor-made-to-court-an/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“It is he who makes the dams and shuts the flood-gates of corrupted nature so that it cannot break forth in a deluge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/it-is-he-who-makes-the-dams-and-shuts-the-flood-gates-of-corrupted/) [john owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“mankind have a little corrupted nature, for they were not born wolves, and they have become wolves; God has given them neither cannon of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/mankind-have-a-little-corrupted-nature-for-they-were-not-born-wolves/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“Pangloss explained to him how everything was so constituted that it could not be better. James was not of this opinion. "It is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/pangloss-explained-to-him-how-everything-was-so-constituted-that-it/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I am corrupted to the bone with the beauty of this forsaken world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee-2/i-am-corrupted-to-the-bone-with-the-beauty-of-this-forsaken-world/) [J. M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee-2/) > [Have you ever found in history, one single example of a nation, thoroughly corrupted, that was afterwards restored to virtue? And without virtue there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/have-you-ever-found-in-history-one-single-example-of-a-nation/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Even cohabitation has been corrupted - by marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/even-cohabitation-has-been-corrupted-by-marriage/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The U.S. financial markets had always been either corrupt or about to be corrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-u-s-financial-markets-had-always-been-either-corrupt-or-about-to/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“When mystical elements are introduced into morality, the whole system ends up being corrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/when-mystical-elements-are-introduced-into-morality-the-whole-system/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“Plantations of good morals are easily captivated, colonized and corrupted by the pests of a bad company. Spray away bad companies and you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/plantations-of-good-morals-are-easily-captivated-colonized-and/) [israelmore ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [My mind corrupted but my heart is still pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cj-fly/my-mind-corrupted-but-my-heart-is-still-pure/) [CJ Fly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cj-fly/) > [Whenever the speech is corrupted so is the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-the-speech-is-corrupted-so-is-the-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The whole idea of the pursuit of goods and possessions has completely corrupted the human experience, along with religion, which I think limits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-whole-idea-of-the-pursuit-of-goods-and-possessions-has-completely/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The government is corrupted. It's corrupted. It is not about regular people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-schmidt/the-government-is-corrupted-it-s-corrupted-it-is-not-about-regular/) [Steve Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-schmidt/) ## More by John Owen > [God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/god-hath-work-to-do-in-this-world-and-to-desert-it-because-of-its/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: "God, preserve my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/if-we-do-not-abide-in-prayer-we-will-abide-in-temptation-let-this-be/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [The least grace is a better security for heaven than the greatest gifts or privileges whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/the-least-grace-is-a-better-security-for-heaven-than-the-greatest/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“Our belief of the Scriptures to be the word of God, or a divine revelation, and our understanding of the mind and will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/our-belief-of-the-scriptures-to-be-the-word-of-god-or-a-divine/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [How can we possibly believe the promises concerning Heaven, immortality, and glory, when we do not believe the promises concerning our present life? And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/how-can-we-possibly-believe-the-promises-concerning-heaven/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [It must be observed, that the best of men, the most holy and spiritually minded, may have, nay, ought to have, their thoughts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/it-must-be-observed-that-the-best-of-men-the-most-holy-and/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [I will not judge a person to be spiritually dead whom I have judged formerly to have had spiritual life, though I see him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/i-will-not-judge-a-person-to-be-spiritually-dead-whom-i-have-judged/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“And those who pretend to be teachers of others, and yet despise his teaching assistance, will one day find that they undertook a work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/and-those-who-pretend-to-be-teachers-of-others-and-yet-despise-his/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Spiritual wisdom consists in finding out the subtleties, policies, and depths of any indwelling sin... to trace this serpent in all its turnings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/spiritual-wisdom-consists-in-finding-out-the-subtleties-policies-and/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Christ by his death destroying the works of the devil, procuring the Spirit for us, hath so killed sin, as to its reign in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/christ-by-his-death-destroying-the-works-of-the-devil-procuring-the/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [A man may easier see without eyes, speak without a tongue, than truly mortify one sin without the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/a-man-may-easier-see-without-eyes-speak-without-a-tongue-than-truly/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Christ's blood is the great sovereign remedy for sin-sick souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/christ-s-blood-is-the-great-sovereign-remedy-for-sin-sick-souls/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Sin aims always at the utmost; every time it rises up to tempt or entice, if it has its own way it will go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/sin-aims-always-at-the-utmost-every-time-it-rises-up-to-tempt-or/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Never was sin seen to be more abominably sinful and full of provocation than when the burden of it was upon the shoulders of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/never-was-sin-seen-to-be-more-abominably-sinful-and-full-of/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [He, then, that would really, thoroughly, and acceptably mortify any disquieting lust, let him take care to be equally diligent in all parts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/he-then-that-would-really-thoroughly-and-acceptably-mortify-any/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) [Explore all 244 John Owen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) ## More Beloved quotes > [My Chosen Daughter, No one can define you without your permission. I want you to be so secure in who you are in Me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/god/my-chosen-daughter-no-one-can-define-you-without-your-permission-i/) God > [Why should the Marquis de Cussy wage war on soup? I cannot understand a dinner without it. I hold soup to be the well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-antoine-careme/why-should-the-marquis-de-cussy-wage-war-on-soup-i-cannot-understand/) [Marie-Antoine Careme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-antoine-careme/) > [Beloved, let your eyes half close, and your heart beat Over my heart, and your hair fall over my breast, Drowning love's lonely hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/beloved-let-your-eyes-half-close-and-your-heart-beat-over-my-heart/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [I made you, dear, and all I make is perfect. Please come close, for I desire you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/i-made-you-dear-and-all-i-make-is-perfect-please-come-close-for-i/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [A lover asked his beloved, Do you love yourself more than you love me? Beloved replied, I have died to myself and I live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-lover-asked-his-beloved-do-you-love-yourself-more-than-you-love-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [My beloved like a jewel on my crown, In my vast and blue sky you are like a full-moon. I wish to stay entrapped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranjan-dey/my-beloved-like-a-jewel-on-my-crown-in-my-vast-and-blue-sky-you-are/) [Ranjan Dey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranjan-dey/) > [Love is doing what will enthrall the beloved with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall the beloved this way is the glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/love-is-doing-what-will-enthrall-the-beloved-with-the-greatest-and/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Rest you well, beloved Jesus, Caesar’s Lord and Israel’s King, In the brooding of the Spirit, in the darkness of the spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/rest-you-well-beloved-jesus-caesar-s-lord-and-israel-s-king-in-the/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [My beloved friend - one of the most unique and charming personalities of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/my-beloved-friend-one-of-the-most-unique-and-charming-personalities/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [A lover goes toward his beloved as enthusiastically as a schoolboy leaving his books, but when he leaves his girlfriend, he feels as miserable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-lover-goes-toward-his-beloved-as-enthusiastically-as-a-schoolboy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I lost my dad when I was younger, and I know what its like to lose a beloved parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/i-lost-my-dad-when-i-was-younger-and-i-know-what-its-like-to-lose-a/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [My beloved dog defied treatment from the best and most expensive veterinarians, holistic practitioners, trainers, and animal communicators. He was simply beyond my ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/my-beloved-dog-defied-treatment-from-the-best-and-most-expensive/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [Perhaps if only once you did enjoy The thousandth part of all the happiness A heart beloved enjoys, returning love, Repentant, you would surely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquato-tasso/perhaps-if-only-once-you-did-enjoy-the-thousandth-part-of-all-the/) [Torquato Tasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquato-tasso/) > [Wicked sons do not have the Holy Ghost in the same way as do beloved sons, and yet they do have Baptism. So, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/wicked-sons-do-not-have-the-holy-ghost-in-the-same-way-as-do-beloved/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) [Browse all 1,440 Beloved quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beloved/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Free will is \"corrupted nature's deformed darling, the Pallas or beloved self-conception of darkened minds\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Owen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/free-will-is-corrupted-nature-s-deformed-darling-the-pallas-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beloved" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/free-will-is-corrupted-nature-s-deformed-darling-the-pallas-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/john-owen-1415_beloved_free-will-is-corrupted-nature-s-deformed_2938756.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/john-owen-1415_beloved_free-will-is-corrupted-nature-s-deformed_2938756.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/john-owen-1415_beloved_free-will-is-corrupted-nature-s-deformed_2938756.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Free will is \"corrupted nature's deformed darling, the Pallas or beloved self-conception of darkened minds\"” — John Owen", "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 Owen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Free will is \"corrupted nature's deformed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/free-will-is-corrupted-nature-s-deformed-darling-the-pallas-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/free-will-is-corrupted-nature-s-deformed-darling-the-pallas-or/#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 } } ] } ```