--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: you will become reconciled with legality…" description: "\"“you will become reconciled with legality and with that root of roots, the national community, returning, like the prodigal son, to the paternal home. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/jos-saramago-208_freedom_you-will-become-reconciled-with-legality_416496.jpg" --- # you will become reconciled with legality and with that… ![“you will become reconciled with legality and with that root of roots, the national community, returning, like the prodigal son, to the paternal home. You are now a lawless city. You will not have a government to tell you what you should and should not do, how you should and should not behave, the…” quote by José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/jos-saramago-208_freedom_you-will-become-reconciled-with-legality_416496.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/jos-saramago-208_freedom_you-will-become-reconciled-with-legality_416496.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/jos-saramago-208_freedom_you-will-become-reconciled-with-legality_416496.jpg) > ““you will become reconciled with legality and with that root of roots, the national community, returning, like the prodigal son, to the paternal home. You are now a lawless city. You will not have a government to tell you what you should and should not do, how you should and should not behave, the streets will be yours, they belong to you, use them as you wish, there will be no authority to stop you in your tracks and offer you sound advice, but equally, and listen carefully to my words, there will be no authority to protect you from thieves, rapists and murderers, that will be your freedom, and may you enjoy it.”” [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A warning that absolute freedom without law leads to chaos and danger, despite its seductive appeal. **In simple terms:** Freedom without rules brings danger. Key Takeaway Balance liberty with responsibility. Themes freedom law anarchy Mood cautionary thought‑provoking Type philosophical political When to use this quote - urban life - political movements - community building - personal liberty Key Concepts social contract ethical limits Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards are needed for true freedom? - How can societies protect citizens without oppressive control? A Different Perspective Complete lawlessness can cause harm and insecurity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Prodigal son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prodigal-son/) ## Related quotes > [Painting is really good fun, I have always enjoyed it. As long as I paint what I want with the freedom that I enjoy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer/painting-is-really-good-fun-i-have-always-enjoyed-it-as-long-as-i/) [John Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer/) > [In simplicity, there is freedom - freedom to do less and enjoy more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kenison/in-simplicity-there-is-freedom-freedom-to-do-less-and-enjoy-more/) [Katrina Kenison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kenison/) > [The less of one's life one must exchange for money, the more freedom one may enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-less-of-one-s-life-one-must-exchange-for-money-the-more-freedom/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [The more freedom we enjoy, the greater the responsibility we bear, toward others as well as ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/the-more-freedom-we-enjoy-the-greater-the-responsibility-we-bear/) [Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [Give yourself the mental freedom to enjoy the process, because the process of writing is a long one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-moss/give-yourself-the-mental-freedom-to-enjoy-the-process-because-the/) [Tara Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-moss/) > [“Like it was different up here with him now. Less solitary.More complete.The freedom to be and the freedom to enjoy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-delinsky/like-it-was-different-up-here-with-him-now-less-solitary-more/) [Barbara Delinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-delinsky/) > [“The degree of freedom we enjoy outwardly is a reflection of the degree of love we cultivate inwardly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-micha-el-leventhal/the-degree-of-freedom-we-enjoy-outwardly-is-a-reflection-of-the/) [Eric Micha'el Leventhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-micha-el-leventhal/) > [It's great to have the freedom to enjoy your work and not feel like you're leaving your other life behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-paquin/it-s-great-to-have-the-freedom-to-enjoy-your-work-and-not-feel-like/) [Anna Paquin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-paquin/) > [The freedom we enjoy is a richly textured gift handcrafted by ordinary folk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/the-freedom-we-enjoy-is-a-richly-textured-gift-handcrafted-by/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [If a man is miser, he will certainly have a prodigal son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/if-a-man-is-miser-he-will-certainly-have-a-prodigal-son/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I never understood redemption when I was young. Even before I was an atheist, I always thought with the prodigal son, "well, why's he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-never-understood-redemption-when-i-was-young-even-before-i-was-an/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [It is for us to begin. If we take one step towards the Lord, he takes ten towards us -- he who saw the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/it-is-for-us-to-begin-if-we-take-one-step-towards-the-lord-he-takes/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [“I thought of the parable of the prodigal son. We had made merry for the beloved child's return too - but what happens when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-b-cooney/i-thought-of-the-parable-of-the-prodigal-son-we-had-made-merry-for/) [Caroline B. Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-b-cooney/) > [We all know the story of the prodigal son. Confident he knows what is best for him, he recklessly squanders his inheritance. The Occupy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/we-all-know-the-story-of-the-prodigal-son-confident-he-knows-what-is/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [“ The Prodigal Son They gave the deep end of their heart--a hue of crimson red, They whispered their desire and offered up their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-prodigal-son-they-gave-the-deep-end-of-their-heart-a-hue-of/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## More by José Saramago > [“We are born, and at that moment, it is as if we had signed a pact for the rest of our life, but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/we-are-born-and-at-that-moment-it-is-as-if-we-had-signed-a-pact-for/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [It takes little or nothing to undo reputations, the merest trifle makes and remakes them, it is simply a question of finding the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-takes-little-or-nothing-to-undo-reputations-the-merest-trifle/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [One can show no greater respect than to weep for a stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to-weep-for-a-stranger/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [I am not a prophet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-am-not-a-prophet/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [With the passage of time, as well as the social evolution and genetic exchange, we ended up putting our conscience in the color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/with-the-passage-of-time-as-well-as-the-social-evolution-and-genetic/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“Al día siguiente no murió nadie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/al-d-a-siguiente-no-muri-nadie/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“E se as histórias para crianças passassem a ser de leitura obrigatória para os adultos? Seriam eles capazes de aprender realmente o que há…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/e-se-as-hist-rias-para-crian-as-passassem-a-ser-de-leitura-obrigat/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [In a king, modesty would be a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/in-a-king-modesty-would-be-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“the inmates of the second ward in the right wing have decided, at long last, to bury their dead, at least we shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/the-inmates-of-the-second-ward-in-the-right-wing-have-decided-at-long/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“Stretching one arm behind him, the man passed his hand over the horse's coat, his own skin transformed, or skin which had transformed into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/stretching-one-arm-behind-him-the-man-passed-his-hand-over-the-horse/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [I think we are blind. Blind people who can see, but do not see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-think-we-are-blind-blind-people-who-can-see-but-do-not-see/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [...you have to leave the island in order to see the island, that we can't see ourselves unless we become free of ourselves, Unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/you-have-to-leave-the-island-in-order-to-see-the-island-that-we-can-t/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [anyone who gets up early by inclination or has been forced to rise early out of necessity finds it intolerable that others should go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/anyone-who-gets-up-early-by-inclination-or-has-been-forced-to-rise/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Society has to change, but the political powers we have at the moment are not enough to effect this change. The whole democratic system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/society-has-to-change-but-the-political-powers-we-have-at-the-moment/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“... aborrece os odores nocturnos, aquelas expansões do corpo a que nem poetas escapam".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/aborrece-os-odores-nocturnos-aquelas-expans-es-do-corpo-a-que-nem/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) [Explore all 487 José Saramago quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) ## 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": "“you will become reconciled with legality and with that root of roots, the national community, returning, like the prodigal son, to the paternal home. You are now a lawless city. 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