--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Liberty consists in the power of doing…" description: "\"Liberty consists in the power of doing that which is permitted by the law.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_freedom_liberty-consists-in-the-power-of-doing-t_2307268.jpg" --- # Liberty consists in the power of doing that which is… ![“Liberty consists in the power of doing that which is permitted by the law.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_freedom_liberty-consists-in-the-power-of-doing-t_2307268.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_freedom_liberty-consists-in-the-power-of-doing-t_2307268.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_freedom_liberty-consists-in-the-power-of-doing-t_2307268.jpg) > “Liberty consists in the power of doing that which is permitted by the law.” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## 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 the lawful ability to act within legal bounds. **In simple terms:** Freedom = lawful action. Key Takeaway Respect law while exercising liberty. Themes law freedom responsibility Mood reflective serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - voting - business decisions - personal choices Key Concepts political theory civil rights ethics Questions to Reflect On - Is law always just? - How balance personal freedom with societal rules? A Different Perspective Legal limits can restrict moral actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing Permitted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-permitted-5467273/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Liberty Consists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty-consists-986963/) [Permitted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permitted/) [Permitted Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permitted-law-1617490/) ## Related quotes > [“Everything that isn't permitted by The Law is forbidden.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/everything-that-isn-t-permitted-by-the-law-is-forbidden/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [He who is permitted by law to have no property of his own, can with difficulty conceive that property is founded in anything but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/he-who-is-permitted-by-law-to-have-no-property-of-his-own-can-with/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [This is a case if the President is permitted to be above the law, then we no longer have a republic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/this-is-a-case-if-the-president-is-permitted-to-be-above-the-law-then/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [Liberty consists in doing what one desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/liberty-consists-in-doing-what-one-desires/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Liberty consists in wholesome restraint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/liberty-consists-in-wholesome-restraint/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [True liberty consists not merely in being free from something, but also in being free for something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/true-liberty-consists-not-merely-in-being-free-from-something-but/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [True liberty consists only in the power of doing what we ought to will, and in not being constrained to do what we ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power-of-doing-what-we-ought-to-2/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [That which is not forbidden, is not on that account permitted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/that-which-is-not-forbidden-is-not-on-that-account-permitted/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Though liberty is established by law, we must be vigilant, for liberty to enslave us is always present under that very liberty. Our Constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/though-liberty-is-established-by-law-we-must-be-vigilant-for-liberty/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I prize the conditions under which I have lived because they have permitted me to choose my opportunities, to inquire into such matters as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-keith/i-prize-the-conditions-under-which-i-have-lived-because-they-have/) [Arthur Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-keith/) > [“Everything has always been permitted, even when God was around. God has nothing to do with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wood/everything-has-always-been-permitted-even-when-god-was-around-god-has/) [James Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wood/) > [“If there's no God, all is permitted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-there-s-no-god-all-is-permitted/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We may not always know what we're wanted for, nor is it for us to enquire, but nobody is useless as long as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-gatty/we-may-not-always-know-what-we-re-wanted-for-nor-is-it-for-us-to/) [Margaret Gatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-gatty/) > [I'd always wanted to live in San Francisco, and my circumstances never permitted it. I'm so happy I made the move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-d-always-wanted-to-live-in-san-francisco-and-my-circumstances-never/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [It was the one dream he'd never permitted himself to consider.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/it-was-the-one-dream-he-d-never-permitted-himself-to-consider/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Liberty consists in the power of doing that which is permitted by the law.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/liberty-consists-in-the-power-of-doing-that-which-is-permitted-by-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Freedom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/liberty-consists-in-the-power-of-doing-that-which-is-permitted-by-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_freedom_liberty-consists-in-the-power-of-doing-t_2307268.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_freedom_liberty-consists-in-the-power-of-doing-t_2307268.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_freedom_liberty-consists-in-the-power-of-doing-t_2307268.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Liberty consists in the power of doing that which is permitted by the law.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Liberty consists in the power of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/liberty-consists-in-the-power-of-doing-that-which-is-permitted-by-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/liberty-consists-in-the-power-of-doing-that-which-is-permitted-by-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```