--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Freedom of expression is actually a way…" description: "\"Freedom of expression is actually a way for people to know themselves better, and to understand themselves better. Because without it, you become a str..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/lucien-bourjeily-44518_expression_freedom-of-expression-is-actually-a-way_2722418.png" --- # Freedom of expression is actually a way for people to know… ![“Freedom of expression is actually a way for people to know themselves better, and to understand themselves better. Because without it, you become a stranger to yourself.” quote by Lucien Bourjeily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/lucien-bourjeily-44518_expression_freedom-of-expression-is-actually-a-way_2722418.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/lucien-bourjeily-44518_expression_freedom-of-expression-is-actually-a-way_2722418.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/lucien-bourjeily-44518_expression_freedom-of-expression-is-actually-a-way_2722418.png) > “Freedom of expression is actually a way for people to know themselves better, and to understand themselves better. Because without it, you become a stranger to yourself.” [Lucien Bourjeily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucien-bourjeily/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expressing oneself reveals personal identity and prevents self-alienation. **In simple terms:** Self‑expression helps you know yourself. Key Takeaway Speak openly to stay true. Themes self‑knowledge authenticity communication Mood reflective introspective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal journaling - creative writing - team meetings - therapy sessions Key Concepts psychology identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How does silence affect self‑understanding? - What environments encourage honest expression? A Different Perspective Without safe spaces, expression can be suppressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom of expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-expression/) [Freedom of speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-speech/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) ## Related quotes > [“It is not that difficult to understand and differentiate between our said rights and our assumption that we solely own them. (...) Your right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudys-kantara/it-is-not-that-difficult-to-understand-and-differentiate-between-our/) Claudys Kantara > [If you look at one of the basic underlying tenets of liberty, it's freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom to access of information.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-yoho/if-you-look-at-one-of-the-basic-underlying-tenets-of-liberty-it-s/) [Ted Yoho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-yoho/) > [Well, the problem is the freedom that the sport gives you without getting to politics. Unfortunately, you cannot now separate it because people cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/well-the-problem-is-the-freedom-that-the-sport-gives-you-without/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [The rule of law, democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of expression - we cannot take them for granted. They do not exist willy-nilly across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lubetzky/the-rule-of-law-democracy-freedom-of-speech-freedom-of-expression-we/) [Daniel Lubetzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lubetzky/) > [Honestly, this country was built on freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and when you can no longer do that, then it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinnie-paul/honestly-this-country-was-built-on-freedom-of-speech-and-freedom-of/) [Vinnie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinnie-paul/) > [Freedom of expression and freedom of speech aren't really important unless they're heard. The freedom of hearing is as important as the freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-smothers/freedom-of-expression-and-freedom-of-speech-aren-t-really-important/) [Tom Smothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-smothers/) > [Here's a nation, one of the founding pillars was freedom of speech and freedom of expression. And yet, we have imposed upon people restrictions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/here-s-a-nation-one-of-the-founding-pillars-was-freedom-of-speech-and/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Most artists don't understand what they do, and I don't think we have to. Other people do that better - they understand what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/most-artists-don-t-understand-what-they-do-and-i-don-t-think-we-have/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [“You realize that you don't understand yourself better than you understand anyone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/you-realize-that-you-don-t-understand-yourself-better-than-you/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [Culture makes people understand each other better. And if they understand each other better in their soul, it is easier to overcome the economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/culture-makes-people-understand-each-other-better-and-if-they/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The more you think about yourself, the better you understand yourself. The more you understand yourself, the better you serve your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-you-think-about-yourself-the-better-you-understand-yourself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We live in a democratic country, and I take great pride in saying that I'm from India, a country where democracy is worshipped and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-bajpayee/we-live-in-a-democratic-country-and-i-take-great-pride-in-saying-that/) [Manoj Bajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-bajpayee/) > [“Mubarak said: I talk to you during critical times that are testing Egypt and its people which could sweep them into the unknown ……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amiso-m-george/mubarak-said-i-talk-to-you-during-critical-times-that-are-testing/) Amiso M. George > [Well, one thing, you got to stand in a courtroom and listen to a judge sentencing you to 25 years in prison before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/well-one-thing-you-got-to-stand-in-a-courtroom-and-listen-to-a-judge/) [Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/) > [It's one of the things I really admire about Sly - we were all allowed to use our creativity, to have freedom of expression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-graham/it-s-one-of-the-things-i-really-admire-about-sly-we-were-all-allowed/) [Larry Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-graham/) ## More by Lucien Bourjeily > [There is an anatomical dysfunction in today's Lebanon, and we have been stuck in a socio-political vicious circle for decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucien-bourjeily/there-is-an-anatomical-dysfunction-in-today-s-lebanon-and-we-have/) [Lucien Bourjeily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucien-bourjeily/) > [Censorship constrains art and limits its impact as much as it does with all free thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucien-bourjeily/censorship-constrains-art-and-limits-its-impact-as-much-as-it-does/) [Lucien Bourjeily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucien-bourjeily/) > [Theatre has so many competitors, it's no longer enough to see and hear a play. You want to be able to touch and smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucien-bourjeily/theatre-has-so-many-competitors-it-s-no-longer-enough-to-see-and-hear/) [Lucien Bourjeily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucien-bourjeily/) > [Even if censorship might encourage creative ways to circumvent it, it still slows down progress and our ability to realise our full creative potential.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucien-bourjeily/even-if-censorship-might-encourage-creative-ways-to-circumvent-it-it/) [Lucien Bourjeily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucien-bourjeily/) > [I truly believe that art can be an agent of change and has been, throughout history, a tool to enlighten the individual and society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucien-bourjeily/i-truly-believe-that-art-can-be-an-agent-of-change-and-has-been/) [Lucien Bourjeily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucien-bourjeily/) > [I never made a clear-cut in my mind between theatre and film, as I always felt that at the heart of both of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucien-bourjeily/i-never-made-a-clear-cut-in-my-mind-between-theatre-and-film-as-i/) [Lucien Bourjeily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucien-bourjeily/) > [The great thing about improvisation is that it allows us to establish an uncensored form of theater. Freedom of speech is absolutely inherent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucien-bourjeily/the-great-thing-about-improvisation-is-that-it-allows-us-to-establish/) [Lucien Bourjeily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucien-bourjeily/) > [We should be in the business of living, not making a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucien-bourjeily/we-should-be-in-the-business-of-living-not-making-a-living/) [Lucien Bourjeily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucien-bourjeily/) [Explore all 9 Lucien Bourjeily quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucien-bourjeily/) ## More Expression quotes > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Our fashion for us, it's an expression; first of all of life, I put all of myself in my fashion. Sometimes it's good, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-gabbana/our-fashion-for-us-it-s-an-expression-first-of-all-of-life-i-put-all/) [Stefano Gabbana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-gabbana/) > [We can see nothing whatever of the soul unless it is visible in the expression of the countenance; one might call the faces at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/we-can-see-nothing-whatever-of-the-soul-unless-it-is-visible-in-the/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [Early experience shapes the structure and function of the brain. This reveals the fundamental way in which gene expression is determined by experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/early-experience-shapes-the-structure-and-function-of-the-brain-this/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [Singing has always seemed to me the most perfect means of expression. It is so spontaneous. And after singing, I think the violin. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/singing-has-always-seemed-to-me-the-most-perfect-means-of-expression/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Nick looked vaguely homicidal, but that was sort of his default expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/nick-looked-vaguely-homicidal-but-that-was-sort-of-his-default/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [They are the gateway for our modern esthetic development, the prophets of the new time. They are most of all, the primitives of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/they-are-the-gateway-for-our-modern-esthetic-development-the-prophets/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [The mountain receives our expressions and becomes part of us; we imprint our memories upon it and trust it with out dearest divisions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-barcott/the-mountain-receives-our-expressions-and-becomes-part-of-us-we/) [Bruce Barcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-barcott/) > [In science, the most exciting expression isn’t ‘Eureka!’ It’s ‘Huh?’](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hawley/in-science-the-most-exciting-expression-isn-t-eureka-it-s-huh/) Michael Hawley > [A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-commitment-to-lifelong-learning-is-a-natural-expression-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 5,024 Expression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Freedom of expression is actually a way for people to know themselves better, and to understand themselves better. 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