--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Freedom. Sometimes it isn't what you…" description: "\"Freedom. Sometimes it isn't what you thought it was when you wanted it to start with. When you can do anything you want, choosing's not easy.\" — Lesley..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/lesley-howarth-34196_can-do_freedom-sometimes-it-isn-t-what-you-thou_979000.png" --- # Freedom. Sometimes it isn't what you thought it was when… ![“Freedom. Sometimes it isn't what you thought it was when you wanted it to start with. When you can do anything you want, choosing's not easy.” quote by Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/lesley-howarth-34196_can-do_freedom-sometimes-it-isn-t-what-you-thou_979000.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/lesley-howarth-34196_can-do_freedom-sometimes-it-isn-t-what-you-thou_979000.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/lesley-howarth-34196_can-do_freedom-sometimes-it-isn-t-what-you-thou_979000.png) > “Freedom. Sometimes it isn't what you thought it was when you wanted it to start with. When you can do anything you want, choosing's not easy.” [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom can be unexpected and challenging; unlimited choice makes decision‑making difficult. **In simple terms:** Freedom isn’t always what you expect; choices can be hard. Key Takeaway Embrace responsibility when making choices. Themes freedom choice responsibility Mood thoughtful conflicted Type philosophical contemplative When to use this quote - career decisions - personal goals - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide when faced with many options? - What values guide your choices? A Different Perspective Too much freedom can cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ## Related quotes > [“What I’m trying to say is that it will be okay between you and Nate. Because you both want that. Because you both want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dave/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-it-will-be-okay-between-you-and-nate/) [Laura Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dave/) > [For what its worth, its never too late¦ to be whoever you want to be. Theres no time limit. Start whenever you want. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/for-what-its-worth-its-never-too-late-to-be-whoever-you-want-to-be/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [I would want to start. I want to run out there in front of 20,000 people and get my name announced. I get it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nurse/i-would-want-to-start-i-want-to-run-out-there-in-front-of-20-000/) [Nick Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nurse/) > [They always say start at the bottom if you want to learn something. 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It's always step by step.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-wawrinka/i-never-start-anything-i-want-to-be-no-1-i-want-to-win-grand-slam-for/) [Stan Wawrinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-wawrinka/) > [So where do you start when you want to start your life again?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/so-where-do-you-start-when-you-want-to-start-your-life-again/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Actually, it does start with you - if you want to change the world, change yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/actually-it-does-start-with-you-if-you-want-to-change-the-world/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [In America idea of freedom isn't actually about freedom. That's about power. The point of an artist is to find out what are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-martin/in-america-idea-of-freedom-isn-t-actually-about-freedom-that-s-about/) [Chris Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-martin/) > [“Freedom is the ability to think, the ability to choose. Freedom is the ability to direct, to move your life where you decide, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cawdron/freedom-is-the-ability-to-think-the-ability-to-choose-freedom-is-the/) [Peter Cawdron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cawdron/) > [Freedom isn't free. It shouldn't be a bragging point that 'Oh, I don't get involved in politics,' as if that makes someone cleaner. No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/freedom-isn-t-free-it-shouldn-t-be-a-bragging-point-that-oh-i-don-t/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) ## More by Lesley Howarth > [Maps were so much easier than words. Words had a way of getting muddled, or meaning two things at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/maps-were-so-much-easier-than-words-words-had-a-way-of-getting/) [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) > [Some ghosts tried to be showy. These were the kinds to avoid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/some-ghosts-tried-to-be-showy-these-were-the-kinds-to-avoid/) [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) > [That's why I like babies. They're like beginnings we don't have?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/that-s-why-i-like-babies-they-re-like-beginnings-we-don-t-have/) [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) > [Take things slowly. No need to worry about it. Plenty of people moved things and couldn't remember they'd done it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/take-things-slowly-no-need-to-worry-about-it-plenty-of-people-moved/) [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) > [I can do anything. Anything at all. That's the trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/i-can-do-anything-anything-at-all-that-s-the-trouble/) [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) > [Power is responsibility. Don't take advantage. Respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/power-is-responsibility-don-t-take-advantage-respect/) [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) > [The nature of power is such that it can never be understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/the-nature-of-power-is-such-that-it-can-never-be-understood/) [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) > [It is better to travel than to arrive. Better, by far, to find your own way than to have someone else choose it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/it-is-better-to-travel-than-to-arrive-better-by-far-to-find-your-own/) [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) > [Everyone's mind was their own. You absolutely cannot change them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/everyone-s-mind-was-their-own-you-absolutely-cannot-change-them/) [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) > [I know what nuns are, kind of. It's just I never saw one. I didn't know they looked like penguins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/i-know-what-nuns-are-kind-of-it-s-just-i-never-saw-one-i-didn-t-know/) [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) > [I'm sorry but I've been on my own a long time. I don't know what to talk when I bump into other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/i-m-sorry-but-i-ve-been-on-my-own-a-long-time-i-don-t-know-what-to/) [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) > [Here at the bottom of the world, everything was upside down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/here-at-the-bottom-of-the-world-everything-was-upside-down/) [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) > [Power is lonely. Power stands apart. I have power. Therefore, I'm lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/power-is-lonely-power-stands-apart-i-have-power-therefore-i-m-lonely/) [Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) [Explore all 14 Lesley Howarth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Freedom. Sometimes it isn't what you thought it was when you wanted it to start with. 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