--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: External freedom has probably never…" description: "\"External freedom has probably never existed, but neither have I ever known anyone who knew inner freedom.\" — Marlen Haushofer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/marlen-haushofer-34633_freedom_external-freedom-has-probably-never-exis_3195480.jpg" --- # External freedom has probably never existed, but neither… ![“External freedom has probably never existed, but neither have I ever known anyone who knew inner freedom.” quote by Marlen Haushofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/marlen-haushofer-34633_freedom_external-freedom-has-probably-never-exis_3195480.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/marlen-haushofer-34633_freedom_external-freedom-has-probably-never-exis_3195480.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/marlen-haushofer-34633_freedom_external-freedom-has-probably-never-exis_3195480.jpg) > “External freedom has probably never existed, but neither have I ever known anyone who knew inner freedom.” [Marlen Haushofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlen-haushofer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True freedom is found within, not in external circumstances, yet many never experience inner liberty. **In simple terms:** Inner freedom is the real freedom. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner freedom regardless of external limits. Themes inner freedom philosophy existence Mood thoughtful philosophical Type quote reflection When to use this quote - stressful work - political oppression - personal crisis - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What inner practices help you feel free? - Can external constraints ever enhance inner freedom? A Different Perspective Inner freedom can be hard to access without self‑awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [External Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/external-freedom-1482210/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-probably-5911777/) [Inner Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-freedom-1049620/) [Knew Inner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-inner-5911778/) ## Related quotes > [There are internal chains and external chains. All the external chains in the world won't enslave you, if you are free inside. And all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/there-are-internal-chains-and-external-chains-all-the-external-chains/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [The external freedom won't be given to us but in the exact measure as we've known at a given moment, to developing our internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-external-freedom-won-t-be-given-to-us-but-in-the-exact-measure-as/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Just as sex is a God-given instinct for the prolongation of the human race, so the desire for property as a prolongation of one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/just-as-sex-is-a-god-given-instinct-for-the-prolongation-of-the-human/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Freedom is a need of the soul, and nothing else. It is in striving toward God that the soul strives continually after a condition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whittaker-chambers/freedom-is-a-need-of-the-soul-and-nothing-else-it-is-in-striving/) [Whittaker Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whittaker-chambers/) > [It requires greater courage to preserve inner freedom, to move on in one's inward journey into new realms, than to stand defiantly for outer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/it-requires-greater-courage-to-preserve-inner-freedom-to-move-on-in-2/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [“Fundamentally, therefore, any man can, even under such circumstances, decide what shall become of him-mentally and spiritually. He may retain his human dignity even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/fundamentally-therefore-any-man-can-even-under-such-circumstances/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [It is very hard to stay in touch with our true identity because those who want our money, our time, and our energy profit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/it-is-very-hard-to-stay-in-touch-with-our-true-identity-because-those/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Inner freedom demands the rejection of any imposition that injures our dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fausto-cercignani/inner-freedom-demands-the-rejection-of-any-imposition-that-injures/) [Fausto Cercignani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fausto-cercignani/) > [Problems assault us to the degree they preoccupy us. The key to release, rest, and inner freedom is not the elimination of all external…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/problems-assault-us-to-the-degree-they-preoccupy-us-the-key-to/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [“Is this all there is to life? Will I always feel the same? Do I not have some purpose to fulfill, some greater kindness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/is-this-all-there-is-to-life-will-i-always-feel-the-same-do-i-not/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [What's important is to be supportive of all who practice. Anyone on any level, even if they don't call it self-discovery, who is seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/what-s-important-is-to-be-supportive-of-all-who-practice-anyone-on/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I want you to have this feeling too - it is my moral responsibility to help you achieve this inner freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-mendeleev/i-want-you-to-have-this-feeling-too-it-is-my-moral-responsibility-to/) [Dmitri Mendeleev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-mendeleev/) > [“Suddenly, literature, politics, and analysis came together, and I began to think more inclusively about the emotional imprisonment of mind and spirit to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/suddenly-literature-politics-and-analysis-came-together-and-i-began/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [Where true inner freedom is, there is God. And where God is, there we want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/where-true-inner-freedom-is-there-is-god-and-where-god-is-there-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“Let us find inner freedom in each lucky moment that we encounter, like a sun-basking butterfly that finds peace on a cherry blossom petal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/let-us-find-inner-freedom-in-each-lucky-moment-that-we-encounter-like/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) ## More by Marlen Haushofer > [Suddenly I had a flash of insight: I am a monster, I realized, a monster that wants to stalk through the woods, free and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlen-haushofer/suddenly-i-had-a-flash-of-insight-i-am-a-monster-i-realized-a-monster/) [Marlen Haushofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlen-haushofer/) > [I knew I couldn't go on like this, but I'd never been capable of simply nipping an anxiety in the bud. I always had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlen-haushofer/i-knew-i-couldn-t-go-on-like-this-but-i-d-never-been-capable-of/) [Marlen Haushofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlen-haushofer/) > [“I can allow myself to write the truth; all the people for whom I have lied throughout my life are dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlen-haushofer/i-can-allow-myself-to-write-the-truth-all-the-people-for-whom-i-have/) [Marlen Haushofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlen-haushofer/) > [“Nobody will be with me when I die. Nobody will touch me, stare at me or press their hot and living fingers on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlen-haushofer/nobody-will-be-with-me-when-i-die-nobody-will-touch-me-stare-at-me-or/) [Marlen Haushofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlen-haushofer/) > [“The womanliness of my forties had fallen from me, along with my curls, my little double chin and my rounded hips. At the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlen-haushofer/the-womanliness-of-my-forties-had-fallen-from-me-along-with-my-curls/) [Marlen Haushofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlen-haushofer/) > [“Imagination makes people oversensitive,vulnerable and exposed. Perhaps it's a form of degeneracy. I have never held the shortcomings of the unimaginative against them. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlen-haushofer/imagination-makes-people-oversensitive-vulnerable-and-exposed-perhaps/) [Marlen Haushofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlen-haushofer/) [Explore all 7 Marlen Haushofer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlen-haushofer/) ## 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": "External freedom has probably never existed, but neither have I ever known anyone who knew inner freedom.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marlen Haushofer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlen-haushofer/external-freedom-has-probably-never-existed-but-neither-have-i-ever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Freedom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlen-haushofer/external-freedom-has-probably-never-existed-but-neither-have-i-ever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/marlen-haushofer-34633_freedom_external-freedom-has-probably-never-exis_3195480.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/marlen-haushofer-34633_freedom_external-freedom-has-probably-never-exis_3195480.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/marlen-haushofer-34633_freedom_external-freedom-has-probably-never-exis_3195480.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“External freedom has probably never existed, but neither have I ever known anyone who knew inner freedom.” — Marlen Haushofer", "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": "Marlen Haushofer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlen-haushofer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "External freedom has probably never existed,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlen-haushofer/external-freedom-has-probably-never-existed-but-neither-have-i-ever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlen-haushofer/external-freedom-has-probably-never-existed-but-neither-have-i-ever/#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 } } ] } ```