--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No person can do this or that to keep…" description: "\"“No person can do this or that to keep another from being truly free. We are always free. Even if imprisoned.”\" — Leigh LaValle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/leigh-lavalle-53069_choices_no-person-can-do-this-or-that-to-keep-an_2047895.jpg" --- # No person can do this or that to keep another from being… ![“No person can do this or that to keep another from being truly free. We are always free. Even if imprisoned.” quote by Leigh LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/leigh-lavalle-53069_choices_no-person-can-do-this-or-that-to-keep-an_2047895.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/leigh-lavalle-53069_choices_no-person-can-do-this-or-that-to-keep-an_2047895.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/leigh-lavalle-53069_choices_no-person-can-do-this-or-that-to-keep-an_2047895.jpg) > ““No person can do this or that to keep another from being truly free. We are always free. Even if imprisoned.”” [Leigh LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-lavalle/) ## 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 innate and cannot be fully restricted; even confinement cannot erase inner liberty. **In simple terms:** Freedom exists within, regardless of external constraints. Key Takeaway Recognize inner freedom despite circumstances. Themes freedom inner strength resilience Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - prison reform - mental health - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - Can inner freedom compensate for external oppression? - How do we address both internal and external constraints? A Different Perspective The statement may ignore systemic oppression that limits real freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life and living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-and-living/) ## Related quotes > [“It is one thing to be free; to be ignorant and free is to be imprisoned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-croan/it-is-one-thing-to-be-free-to-be-ignorant-and-free-is-to-be-imprisoned/) [M.J. Croan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-croan/) > [Sometimes I suspect that we build our traps ourselves, then we back into them, pretending amazement the while. That is the way of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/sometimes-i-suspect-that-we-build-our-traps-ourselves-then-we-back/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“A truly free man is not free 'from' anything, nor free 'to' anything, he is just free. Free within himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilyas-kassam/a-truly-free-man-is-not-free-from-anything-nor-free-to-anything-he-is/) [Ilyas Kassam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilyas-kassam/) > [“The memory of her kiss was still fresh on my lips, and I knew that with Lily, I was both free and imprisoned for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-greenwood-brown/the-memory-of-her-kiss-was-still-fresh-on-my-lips-and-i-knew-that/) [Anne Greenwood Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-greenwood-brown/) > [If I am truly free, who can tell me how much of my freedom I can have today?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/if-i-am-truly-free-who-can-tell-me-how-much-of-my-freedom-i-can-have/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [One who has mastered himself is truly free. Freedom lies in the heart of the sage, servitude in the heart of the fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/one-who-has-mastered-himself-is-truly-free-freedom-lies-in-the-heart/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [Only the person who risks is truly free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/only-the-person-who-risks-is-truly-free/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Anyone who wants to be truly free must be willing to stand alone in the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/anyone-who-wants-to-be-truly-free-must-be-willing-to-stand-alone-in/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [I don't think any human being is truly free. We're so tethered to our own insecurities and hampered by our fears and our prejudices.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-saliers/i-don-t-think-any-human-being-is-truly-free-we-re-so-tethered-to-our/) [Emily Saliers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-saliers/) > [We will only truly be free when those in bondage are finally free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-will-only-truly-be-free-when-those-in-bondage-are-finally-free/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“Perhaps, there is no such person who can be called truly free, but only those who can be deemed so by comparison.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/perhaps-there-is-no-such-person-who-can-be-called-truly-free-but-only/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [“Freedom cannot be labeled nor won nor envied. Only when one doesn't realize what freedom is, is one truly free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-niko/freedom-cannot-be-labeled-nor-won-nor-envied-only-when-one-doesn-t/) D.J. Niko > [Make me a captive Lord, then I shall be truly free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/make-me-a-captive-lord-then-i-shall-be-truly-free/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [“It is the right of a free individual to be unhindered in their liberty! Especially to fail in their endeavors! Only in this manner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-parfitt/it-is-the-right-of-a-free-individual-to-be-unhindered-in-their/) Keith Parfitt > [But only in their dreams can men be truly free. It was always thus and always thus will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/but-only-in-their-dreams-can-men-be-truly-free-it-was-always-thus-and/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) ## More by Leigh LaValle > [“It was a kiss born of thunderstorms and the wild loneliness of the night. It was hot, fierce, and needy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-lavalle/it-was-a-kiss-born-of-thunderstorms-and-the-wild-loneliness-of-the/) [Leigh LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-lavalle/) > [“What would you tell her about me?” He did not just ask that. “You did not just ask that.” She chuckled. “I’m serious,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-lavalle/what-would-you-tell-her-about-me-he-did-not-just-ask-that-you-did-not/) [Leigh LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-lavalle/) > [“It distressed him seeing her so upset. And his distress over her distress distressed him even more. Which made no sense being that she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-lavalle/it-distressed-him-seeing-her-so-upset-and-his-distress-over-her/) [Leigh LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-lavalle/) > [“How do they do it?” He stopped at her side, his eyes on the jugglers. It seemed impossible that not one ball fell to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-lavalle/how-do-they-do-it-he-stopped-at-her-side-his-eyes-on-the-jugglers-it/) [Leigh LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-lavalle/) > [“Mazie, Mazie." Untangling his long frame, Trent pressed away from the window. "I find you a puzzle. Unfortunately, I never did enjoy puzzles much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-lavalle/mazie-mazie-untangling-his-long-frame-trent-pressed-away-from-the/) [Leigh LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-lavalle/) > [“And his distress over her distress distressed him even more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-lavalle/and-his-distress-over-her-distress-distressed-him-even-more/) [Leigh LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-lavalle/) [Explore all 7 Leigh LaValle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-lavalle/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“No person can do this or that to keep another from being truly free. 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