--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: at one time, a freethinker was a man who…" description: "\"“at one time, a freethinker was a man who had been brought up in the conceptions of religion, law and morality, who reached freethought only after conf..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/leo-tolstoy-55_born-free_at-one-time-a-freethinker-was-a-man-who_878040.png" --- # at one time, a freethinker was a man who had been brought… ![“at one time, a freethinker was a man who had been brought up in the conceptions of religion, law and morality, who reached freethought only after conflict and difficulty. But now a new type of born freethinkers has appeared, who grow up without so much as hearing that there used to be laws of…” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/leo-tolstoy-55_born-free_at-one-time-a-freethinker-was-a-man-who_878040.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/leo-tolstoy-55_born-free_at-one-time-a-freethinker-was-a-man-who_878040.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/leo-tolstoy-55_born-free_at-one-time-a-freethinker-was-a-man-who_878040.png) > ““at one time, a freethinker was a man who had been brought up in the conceptions of religion, law and morality, who reached freethought only after conflict and difficulty. But now a new type of born freethinkers has appeared, who grow up without so much as hearing that there used to be laws of morality, or religion, that authorities existed... In the old days, you see, if a man - a Frenchman, for instance- wished to get an education, he would have set to work to study the classics, the theologians, the tragedians, historians and philosophers- and you can realize all the intellectual labour involved. But nowadays he goes straight for the literature of negation, rapidly assimilates the essence of the science of negation, and thinks he's finished.”” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He contrasts historic freethinkers, who emerged after confronting religion and law, with modern ones raised without exposure to those frameworks, leading to superficial negation. **In simple terms:** Modern freethinkers may lack deep intellectual foundations. Key Takeaway Cultivate thorough study of diverse ideas. Themes philosophy education culture Mood analytical thought‑provoking Type essay philosophical When to use this quote - school curricula - self‑study - public discourse - media consumption Key Concepts critical thinking intellectual history negation theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure depth in your thinking? - What role should tradition play in modern education? A Different Perspective Superficial negation can hinder true understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Born free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-free/) [Freethinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freethinker/) [Freethinkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freethinkers/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Russian literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russian-literature/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [At one time,' Golenishchev continued, either not observing or not willing to observe that both Anna and Vronsky wanted to speak, 'at one time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/at-one-time-golenishchev-continued-either-not-observing-or-not/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/freethinkers-are-those-who-are-willing-to-use-their-minds-without-2/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Freethinkers are generally those who never think at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/freethinkers-are-generally-those-who-never-think-at-all/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [“Logically, this kind of atheism did not prove that there was no God… On the contrary, Southwell was typical in placing the onus probandi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-royle/logically-this-kind-of-atheism-did-not-prove-that-there-was-no-god-on/) Edward Royle > [Freethinkers are occasionally thoughtful, though never free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/freethinkers-are-occasionally-thoughtful-though-never-free/) [Gilbert K. 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He soon felt that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/vronsky-meanwhile-in-spite-of-the-complete-fulfilment-of-what-he-had/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Always wetweating-always wetweating!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/always-wetweating-always-wetweating/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More by Leo Tolstoy > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If you only knew what those society women are, and women in general! 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