--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be free people we must assume total…" description: "\"To be free people we must assume total responsibility for ourselves, but in doing so must possess the capacity to reject responsibility that is not tru..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/m-scott-peck-1921_assuming_to-be-free-people-we-must-assume-total-r_145039.jpg" --- # To be free people we must assume total responsibility for… ![“To be free people we must assume total responsibility for ourselves, but in doing so must possess the capacity to reject responsibility that is not truly ours. To be organized and efficient, to live wisely, we must daily delay gratification and keep an eye on the future; yet to live joyously we…” quote by M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/m-scott-peck-1921_assuming_to-be-free-people-we-must-assume-total-r_145039.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/m-scott-peck-1921_assuming_to-be-free-people-we-must-assume-total-r_145039.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/m-scott-peck-1921_assuming_to-be-free-people-we-must-assume-total-r_145039.jpg) > “To be free people we must assume total responsibility for ourselves, but in doing so must possess the capacity to reject responsibility that is not truly ours. To be organized and efficient, to live wisely, we must daily delay gratification and keep an eye on the future; yet to live joyously we must also possess the capacity, when it is not destructive, to live in the present and act spontaneously. In other words, discipline itself must be disciplined. The type of discipline required to discipline discipline is what I call balancing.” [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing discipline, responsibility, and spontaneity requires self‑regulation and present‑moment awareness. **In simple terms:** Discipline must be disciplined. Key Takeaway Balance structure with spontaneity. Themes discipline responsibility balance present‑moment future Mood thoughtful calm Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal finance - mindfulness practice - creative pursuits Key Concepts psychology self‑management Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize responsibilities? - When do you allow spontaneity? A Different Perspective Balancing may cause internal conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Free people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-people/) [Gratification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratification/) [Live in the present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-the-present/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [“Our challenges are not the enemy. They help us take charge; once we take charge, it creates discipline; and as we are disciplined, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlena-jackson/our-challenges-are-not-the-enemy-they-help-us-take-charge-once-we/) [Charlena Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlena-jackson/) > [“Likewise, if you’ve fallen into the sway of tracking your fellow creators on social media or you check the charts every week to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/likewise-if-you-ve-fallen-into-the-sway-of-tracking-your-fellow/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [In the creative arts you draw a special power. The discipline required is awesome to be an actor or an actress, to be really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-the-creative-arts-you-draw-a-special-power-the-discipline-required/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The discipline required for athletics carried through to writing. You call it obsession. I call it discipline. By the way, I see nothing wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/the-discipline-required-for-athletics-carried-through-to-writing-you/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [“Nevertheless, the same rule applies as at accidents. If you cannot fulfill the need for medical or practical assistance, help fill the need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/nevertheless-the-same-rule-applies-as-at-accidents-if-you-cannot/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“Meditation is not difficult in its concept and essence, but it can present challenges for some. One of the most common is in having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberty-forrest/meditation-is-not-difficult-in-its-concept-and-essence-but-it-can/) liberty forrest > [“There is no effectiveness without discipline, and there is no discipline without character.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/there-is-no-effectiveness-without-discipline-and-there-is-no/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [People talk about discipline, but to me, there's discipline and there's self-discipline. Discipline is listening to people tell you what to do, where to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-shanahan/people-talk-about-discipline-but-to-me-there-s-discipline-and-there-s/) [Mike Shanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-shanahan/) > [There's been nothing but discipline, discipline, discipline all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/there-s-been-nothing-but-discipline-discipline-discipline-all-my-life/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [There is no design without discipline. There is no discipline without intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/there-is-no-design-without-discipline-there-is-no-discipline-without/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [What is discipline? Discipline means creating an order within you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-discipline-discipline-means-creating-an-order-within-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is tons of discipline. Your first discipline is your vocabulary; then your grammar and your punctuation Then, in your exuberance and bounding energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/life-is-tons-of-discipline-your-first-discipline-is-your-vocabulary/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Ultimately, any type of discipline is flawed because it keeps the person who is being disciplined inept. As long as the experience is happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-reynaud/ultimately-any-type-of-discipline-is-flawed-because-it-keeps-the/) Cecile Reynaud > [What is fashion? It's discipline. Discipline and a credo to do only the best, down to the smallest detail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manolo-blahnik/what-is-fashion-it-s-discipline-discipline-and-a-credo-to-do-only-the/) [Manolo Blahnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manolo-blahnik/) > [What is needed, however, isn't just that people working together be nice to each other. It is discipline. Discipline is hard--harder than trustworthiness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/what-is-needed-however-isn-t-just-that-people-working-together-be/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) ## More by M. Scott Peck > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [As I grow through love, so grows my joy, ever more present, ever more constant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/as-i-grow-through-love-so-grows-my-joy-ever-more-present-ever-more/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [“Life is difficult.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/life-is-difficult/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [“The second most common misconception about love is the idea that dependency is love...Its effect is seen most dramatically in an individual who makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/the-second-most-common-misconception-about-love-is-the-idea-that/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Although I was raised in a profoundly secular home, I had a belief, an awareness of God, from as far back as I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/although-i-was-raised-in-a-profoundly-secular-home-i-had-a-belief-an/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [I've gone to great lengths not to be a guru. I think the notion of guruhood is utterly pathological, and I couldn't live that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/i-ve-gone-to-great-lengths-not-to-be-a-guru-i-think-the-notion-of/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [The whole course of human history may depend on a change of heart in one solitary and even humble individual - for it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/the-whole-course-of-human-history-may-depend-on-a-change-of-heart-in/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [The act of loving is an act of self-evolution even when the purpose of the act is someone else's growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/the-act-of-loving-is-an-act-of-self-evolution-even-when-the-purpose/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [“Benjamin Franklin said, “Those things that hurt, instruct.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/benjamin-franklin-said-those-things-that-hurt-instruct/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Abandon the urge to simplify everything, to look for formulas and easy answers, and to begin to think multidimensionally, to glory in the mystery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/abandon-the-urge-to-simplify-everything-to-look-for-formulas-and-easy/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Listening well is an exercise of attention and by necessity hard work. 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No exceptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/there-is-no-act-of-love-that-is-not-an-act-of-work-or-courage-no/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [When you consider yourself valuable you will take care of yourself in all ways that are necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/when-you-consider-yourself-valuable-you-will-take-care-of-yourself-in/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) [Explore all 198 M. Scott Peck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. 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Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be free people we must assume total responsibility for ourselves, but in doing so must possess the capacity to reject responsibility that is not truly ours. To be organized and efficient, to live wisely, we must daily delay gratification and keep an eye on the future; yet to live joyously we must also possess the capacity, when it is not destructive, to live in the present and act spontaneously. In other words, discipline itself must be disciplined. The type of discipline required to discipline discipline is what I call balancing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M. 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