--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True liberty consists only in the power…" description: "\"True liberty consists only in the power of doing what we ought to will, and in not being constrained to do what we ought not to will.\" — Jonathan Edwards" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/jonathan-edwards-770_freedom_true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power_288185.png" --- # True liberty consists only in the power of doing what we… ![“True liberty consists only in the power of doing what we ought to will, and in not being constrained to do what we ought not to will.” quote by Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/jonathan-edwards-770_freedom_true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power_288185.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/jonathan-edwards-770_freedom_true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power_288185.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/jonathan-edwards-770_freedom_true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power_288185.png) > “True liberty consists only in the power of doing what we ought to will, and in not being constrained to do what we ought not to will.” [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Liberty means acting according to moral duty, not being forced into immoral actions. **In simple terms:** Freedom is doing what is right, not being forced into wrong. Key Takeaway Align actions with moral duty. Themes freedom morality will responsibility Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal decisions - legal judgments - political discourse - education - leadership Key Concepts autonomy ethical agency Questions to Reflect On - What duties guide your choices? - How do you balance personal will with external pressures? A Different Perspective Moral freedom can conflict with societal constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constrained Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constrained-ought-2779857/) [Doing Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-ought-1072960/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Ought Constrained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-constrained-2779858/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [True Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-liberty-576803/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [True liberty consists only in the power of doing what we ought to will, and in not being constrained to do what we ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power-of-doing-what-we-ought-to-2/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [True liberty is not liberty to do evil as well as good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-winthrop/true-liberty-is-not-liberty-to-do-evil-as-well-as-good/) [John Winthrop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-winthrop/) > [This is true liberty, when free-born men, having to advise the public, may speak free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/this-is-true-liberty-when-free-born-men-having-to-advise-the-public/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [If doing what ought to be done be made the first business and success a secondary consideration--is not this the way to exalt virtue?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-doing-what-ought-to-be-done-be-made-the-first-business-and-success/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In doing what we ought we deserve no praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-doing-what-we-ought-we-deserve-no-praise/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think you should ever insult people unintentionally: if you're doing it, you ought to mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-insult-people-unintentionally-if-you-re/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Do not even think of doing what ought not to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/do-not-even-think-of-doing-what-ought-not-to-be-done/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [Most people spend most of their lives doing neither what they want to be doing nor what they ought to be doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/most-people-spend-most-of-their-lives-doing-neither-what-they-want-to/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Most of us don't mind doing what we ought to do when it doesn't interfere with what we want to do, but it takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/most-of-us-don-t-mind-doing-what-we-ought-to-do-when-it-doesn-t/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [“It's easy enough to be sensible for other people. But when it comes to myself, there I am! Especially, when I want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-dean-howells/it-s-easy-enough-to-be-sensible-for-other-people-but-when-it-comes-to/) [William Dean Howells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dean-howells/) > [Success is doing what you ought to do the way you ought to do it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kporto/success-is-doing-what-you-ought-to-do-the-way-you-ought-to-do-it/) [Kporto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kporto/) > [I now see that I spent most of my life in doing neither what I ought nor what I liked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-now-see-that-i-spent-most-of-my-life-in-doing-neither-what-i-ought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-doing-what-we-ought-we-deserve-no-praise-because-it-is-our-duty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True liberty acknowledges and defends the equal rights of all men, and all nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-smith/true-liberty-acknowledges-and-defends-the-equal-rights-of-all-men-and/) [Gerrit Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-smith/) > [“This, then, is true liberty: the joy that comes in doing what is right. At the same time, it is also devoted service in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/this-then-is-true-liberty-the-joy-that-comes-in-doing-what-is-right/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) ## More by Jonathan Edwards > [The foundation of the Christian's peace is everlasting; it is what no time, no change can destroy. It will remain when the body dies;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/the-foundation-of-the-christian-s-peace-is-everlasting-it-is-what-no/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Every saint in heaven is as a flower in that garden of God, and holy love is the fragrance and sweet odor that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/every-saint-in-heaven-is-as-a-flower-in-that-garden-of-god-and-holy/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [God is glorified not only by His glory being seen, but by its being rejoiced in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/god-is-glorified-not-only-by-his-glory-being-seen-but-by-its-being/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [There is no way that Christians, in a private capacity, can do so much to promote the work of God and advance the kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/there-is-no-way-that-christians-in-a-private-capacity-can-do-so-much/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [Godliness is more easily feigned in words than in actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/godliness-is-more-easily-feigned-in-words-than-in-actions/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Let the main thing that we prize in God’s house be, not the outward ornaments of it, or a high seat in it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/let-the-main-thing-that-we-prize-in-god-s-house-be-not-the-outward/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“But that is the nature of true grace and spiritual light, that it opens to a person's view the infinite reason there is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/but-that-is-the-nature-of-true-grace-and-spiritual-light-that-it/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“The most determining external influence on his style was unquestionably the old, so-called King James version of the English Bible. His language is saturated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/the-most-determining-external-influence-on-his-style-was/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Edwards sought to impose a new test of qualification. He required, namely, that the candidate for full communion should give evidence of being converted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/edwards-sought-to-impose-a-new-test-of-qualification-he-required/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [ “But it is doubtless true, and evident from \[the\] Scriptures, that the essence of all true religion lies in holy love; and that in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/but-it-is-doubtless-true-and-evident-from-the-scriptures-that-the/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Evangelical faith has the gospel of Christ for its foundation;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/evangelical-faith-has-the-gospel-of-christ-for-its-foundation/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Prop. II. There are many mansions in the house of God. By many mansions is meant many seats or places of abode.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/prop-ii-there-are-many-mansions-in-the-house-of-god-by-many-mansions/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [I resolve to live with all my might while I do live. I resolve never to lose one moment of time and to improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/i-resolve-to-live-with-all-my-might-while-i-do-live-i-resolve-never/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has flung the door of mercy wide open, and stands in the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/and-now-you-have-an-extraordinary-opportunity-a-day-wherein-christ/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [Christ gives peace to the most sinful and miserable that come to Him. He heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/christ-gives-peace-to-the-most-sinful-and-miserable-that-come-to-him/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) [Explore all 375 Jonathan Edwards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) ## 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. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "True liberty consists only in the power of doing what we ought to will, and in not being constrained to do what we ought not to will.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Edwards" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power-of-doing-what-we-ought-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Freedom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power-of-doing-what-we-ought-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/jonathan-edwards-770_freedom_true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power_288185.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/jonathan-edwards-770_freedom_true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power_288185.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/jonathan-edwards-770_freedom_true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power_288185.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“True liberty consists only in the power of doing what we ought to will, and in not being constrained to do…” — Jonathan Edwards", "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": "Jonathan Edwards", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "True liberty consists only in the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power-of-doing-what-we-ought-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power-of-doing-what-we-ought-to/#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 } } ] } ```