--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An education is truly “fitted for…" description: "\"“An education is truly “fitted for freedom” only if it is such as to produce free citizens, citizens who are free not because of wealth or birth, but b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/martha-nussbaum-4759_education_an-education-is-truly-fitted-for-freedom_2932869.jpg" --- # An education is truly “fitted for freedom” only if it is… ![“An education is truly “fitted for freedom” only if it is such as to produce free citizens, citizens who are free not because of wealth or birth, but because they can call their minds their own. Male and female, slave-born and freeborn, rich and poor, they have looked into themselves and developed…” quote by Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/martha-nussbaum-4759_education_an-education-is-truly-fitted-for-freedom_2932869.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/martha-nussbaum-4759_education_an-education-is-truly-fitted-for-freedom_2932869.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/martha-nussbaum-4759_education_an-education-is-truly-fitted-for-freedom_2932869.jpg) > ““An education is truly “fitted for freedom” only if it is such as to produce free citizens, citizens who are free not because of wealth or birth, but because they can call their minds their own. Male and female, slave-born and freeborn, rich and poor, they have looked into themselves and developed the ability to separate mere habit and convention from what they can defend by argument. They have ownership of their own thought and speech, and this imparts to them a dignity that is far beyond the outer dignity of class and rank.”” [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Education that cultivates independent thinking grants true freedom, allowing individuals to own their thoughts and speak with dignity beyond social status. **In simple terms:** True freedom comes from owning one’s mind and speech. Key Takeaway Teach critical thinking, not just facts. Themes education freedom dignity critical thinking Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - schools - public policy - community workshops - online courses Key Concepts capability approach autonomy social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can curricula foster independent thought for all? - What obstacles prevent marginalized groups from gaining intellectual autonomy? A Different Perspective May ignore structural barriers that limit access to such education. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizens Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-free-995227/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education Truly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-truly-3333295/) [Fitted Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitted-freedom-4333062/) [Free Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-citizens-841183/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Rich and poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-and-poor/) ## Related quotes > [And this Nation, for all its hopes and all its boasts, will not be fully free until all its citizens are free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/and-this-nation-for-all-its-hopes-and-all-its-boasts-will-not-be/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [The real difficulty is that people have no idea of what education truly is. We assess the value of education in the same manner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-real-difficulty-is-that-people-have-no-idea-of-what-education/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The teacher that I was for decades, and that I still am in a certain way, wondered what was meant by the word education.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdoulaye-wade/the-teacher-that-i-was-for-decades-and-that-i-still-am-in-a-certain/) [Abdoulaye Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdoulaye-wade/) > [I am impressed with the natural health programs at Nature Care College. Their dedication to quality education is truly inspiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/i-am-impressed-with-the-natural-health-programs-at-nature-care/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [If it weren't for my education, I truly wouldn't be as successful at my job as a model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-garrn/if-it-weren-t-for-my-education-i-truly-wouldn-t-be-as-successful-at/) [Toni Garrn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-garrn/) > [Education truly can change a person’s story, it gave me everything. Whatever happens, get an # education .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atiku-abubakar/education-truly-can-change-a-person-s-story-it-gave-me-everything/) [Atiku Abubakar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atiku-abubakar/) > [Our Founding Fathers were proud that Americans were trusted with arms because they knew that only when people are armed could they truly be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/our-founding-fathers-were-proud-that-americans-were-trusted-with-arms/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Anything that shifts power from the individual judgment of free citizens to government is a bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/anything-that-shifts-power-from-the-individual-judgment-of-free/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [“Free is not how many of our citizens feel—with our overstocked medicine cabinets, burglar alarms, vast ghettos, and drug culture. 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For there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-r-popper/the-alleged-clash-between-freedom-and-security-that-is-a-security/) [Karl R. Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-r-popper/) > [As free citizens in a political democracy, we have a responsibility to be interested and involved in the affairs of the human community, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wellstone/as-free-citizens-in-a-political-democracy-we-have-a-responsibility-to/) [Paul Wellstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wellstone/) > [Liberty cannot be guaranteed by law. Nor by any thing else except the resolution of free citizens to defend their liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/liberty-cannot-be-guaranteed-by-law-nor-by-any-thing-else-except-the/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [“In a society where people have the status of "free citizens," it is important to ensure that all people have the same rights and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maitreya-maitreyan/in-a-society-where-people-have-the-status-of-free-citizens-it-is/) [Maitreya Maitreyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maitreya-maitreyan/) ## More by Martha Nussbaum > [I worked among many famous philosophers, and I tried to observe how they treated students. 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They like to seize control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/people-and-i-think-this-is-particularly-true-of-americans-don-t-like/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [Fear and monarchy pair nicely. But democracy means you have to work with people you may not like but you must still believe are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/fear-and-monarchy-pair-nicely-but-democracy-means-you-have-to-work/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [You have to connect your work to what people are doing. A good way is to construct a bridge between theory and practice -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/you-have-to-connect-your-work-to-what-people-are-doing-a-good-way-is/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [You can't have a democracy when people don't learn to put themselves in the shoes of another person, who can't think what their policies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-don-t-learn-to-put-themselves/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [Every time I undress in the locker room of my gym, I see women bearing the scars of liposuction, tummy tucks, breast implants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/every-time-i-undress-in-the-locker-room-of-my-gym-i-see-women-bearing/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [The U.S. has always understood itself to be united around political principles and not around culture, whereas the nations of Europe have a much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/the-u-s-has-always-understood-itself-to-be-united-around-political/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) [Explore all 106 Martha Nussbaum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. 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They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) [Ioannes Amos Commenius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioannes-amos-commenius/) > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) [H.D. (Hilda Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-hilda-doolittle/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. 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