--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's the very definition of freedom: to…" description: "\"That's the very definition of freedom: to be allowed to develop our own creative potential to the fullest. But it doesn't have to be in the arts, obvio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/martin-donovan-30825_allowed_that-s-the-very-definition-of-freedom-to_878400.jpg" --- # That's the very definition of freedom: to be allowed to… ![“That's the very definition of freedom: to be allowed to develop our own creative potential to the fullest. But it doesn't have to be in the arts, obviously. In my case, I gravitated toward the arts.” quote by Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/martin-donovan-30825_allowed_that-s-the-very-definition-of-freedom-to_878400.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/martin-donovan-30825_allowed_that-s-the-very-definition-of-freedom-to_878400.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/martin-donovan-30825_allowed_that-s-the-very-definition-of-freedom-to_878400.jpg) > “That's the very definition of freedom: to be allowed to develop our own creative potential to the fullest. But it doesn't have to be in the arts, obviously. In my case, I gravitated toward the arts.” [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom means allowing individuals to fully develop their creative potential, not limited to arts. **In simple terms:** Freedom is developing creativity fully. Key Takeaway Encourage personal creative growth. Themes creativity freedom self‑actualization Mood inspired optimistic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - education - career planning - personal projects - community arts programs Key Concepts human potential autonomy expression Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture creativity in daily life? - What barriers limit your creative expression? A Different Perspective Creative potential may be constrained by resources or social expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowed/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Arts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arts/) [Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/case/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative Potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-potential-420901/) [Definition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition/) [Definition Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition-freedom-1026258/) [Develop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/develop/) [Develop Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/develop-creative-1026259/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-allowed-700592/) [Fullest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fullest/) [Obviously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obviously/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potential/) [Toward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toward/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) ## Related quotes > [Do you think of yourself as a creative personality? If you do, you are both fortunate and correct, in fact the beautiful truth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/do-you-think-of-yourself-as-a-creative-personality-if-you-do-you-are/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [But the higher our standard of living, the higher our levels of education, the further people will look around. And we can see which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/but-the-higher-our-standard-of-living-the-higher-our-levels-of/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [“My days restricted... my fate decided. And in that, the one and only freedom allowed to me... was to love...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuki-shimizu/my-days-restricted-my-fate-decided-and-in-that-the-one-and-only/) [Yuki Shimizu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuki-shimizu/) > [“Early the next morning I was astir. Considerable freedom was allowed me, as Sola had informed me that so long as I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-rice-burroughs/early-the-next-morning-i-was-astir-considerable-freedom-was-allowed/) [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-rice-burroughs/) > [Every man should be responsible to others, nor should any one be allowed to do just as he pleases; for where absolute freedom is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/every-man-should-be-responsible-to-others-nor-should-any-one-be/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“How can we help young people develop as creative thinkers so that they’re prepared for life in this ever-changing world?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchel-resnick/how-can-we-help-young-people-develop-as-creative-thinkers-so-that/) [Mitchel Resnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchel-resnick/) > [Are we forming children who are only capable of learning what is already known? Or should we try to develop creative and innovative minds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/are-we-forming-children-who-are-only-capable-of-learning-what-is/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [“Want creativity? Diversify your experience to develop your creative muscles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/want-creativity-diversify-your-experience-to-develop-your-creative/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [To develop the creative attitude, analyze and focus on the wanted SOLUTION; seek out and fill your mind with the FACTS; write down ideas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/to-develop-the-creative-attitude-analyze-and-focus-on-the-wanted/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [I believe intellect is needed in order to develop any creative output and that intellect alone is not enough!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-wilson/i-believe-intellect-is-needed-in-order-to-develop-any-creative-output/) [Louise Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-wilson/) > [My definition of freedom is knowing who you are, and then being it. No matter what anyone else is doing. And naked parties of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pink/my-definition-of-freedom-is-knowing-who-you-are-and-then-being-it-no/) [Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pink/) > [“According to the logic of that old, deluded world, freedom means being at liberty to come and go as we please. Such a definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-strand/according-to-the-logic-of-that-old-deluded-world-freedom-means-being/) [Clark Strand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-strand/) > [“The mountains knew the definition of freedom. They provided a place where he could find his mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-rice/the-mountains-knew-the-definition-of-freedom-they-provided-a-place/) [Daniel J. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-rice/) > [“I don't like definitions, but if there is a definition of freedom, it would be when you have control over your reality to transform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-knopfler/i-don-t-like-definitions-but-if-there-is-a-definition-of-freedom-it/) [Mark Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-knopfler/) > [And no practical definition of freedom would be complete without the freedom to take the consequences. Indeed, it is the freedom upon which all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/and-no-practical-definition-of-freedom-would-be-complete-without-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More by Martin Donovan > [A lot of banging in the head has built up over the decades, and for my own sanity, I needed to write. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/a-lot-of-banging-in-the-head-has-built-up-over-the-decades-and-for-my/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [If you blink, you will miss me, but I am in 'Malcolm X.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/if-you-blink-you-will-miss-me-but-i-am-in-malcolm-x/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [Can we ignore what is going on around us, can we disconnect ourselves, our own material situation, our spiritual selves, who we are, can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/can-we-ignore-what-is-going-on-around-us-can-we-disconnect-ourselves/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [People have different relationships with power. I suppose a large portion of the 'Homeland' audience aligns with the U.S., sort of against the enemies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/people-have-different-relationships-with-power-i-suppose-a-large/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [I'm a sucker for entertainment and escapism as much as the next person. I like silly and lowbrow stuff, but I get nervous when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/i-m-a-sucker-for-entertainment-and-escapism-as-much-as-the-next/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [When you are raised Catholic, there is one thing that you are confronted with at a young age, and that's death. You're confronted with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/when-you-are-raised-catholic-there-is-one-thing-that-you-are/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [I love watching Marty Scorsese's films, but they always make me feel terrible about being a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/i-love-watching-marty-scorsese-s-films-but-they-always-make-me-feel/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [Directing a film was something I always wanted to do, something that seemed an inevitability in my development as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/directing-a-film-was-something-i-always-wanted-to-do-something-that/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [I'm always looking for something that tells me a little bit about what it means to be human. That's how I measure the success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/i-m-always-looking-for-something-that-tells-me-a-little-bit-about/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [When I was coming up with the Hal Hartley films, I was cast as a no one. I had no name visibility. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/when-i-was-coming-up-with-the-hal-hartley-films-i-was-cast-as-a-no/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [Name your nation-state, or tribe or party - you have to rationalize what you're doing. You have to go to sleep at night. Does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/name-your-nation-state-or-tribe-or-party-you-have-to-rationalize-what/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [I wanted to express myself more fully through writing and directing. It just feels like a package deal. Anytime you create anything, you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/i-wanted-to-express-myself-more-fully-through-writing-and-directing/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > ['Collaborator' is a hostage tragicomedy, but it's also, kind of, everything I know about post-war America. Well, not everything, but it does reference a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/collaborator-is-a-hostage-tragicomedy-but-it-s-also-kind-of/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [I actually love 'West Side Story.' I think it's an amazing film to watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/i-actually-love-west-side-story-i-think-it-s-an-amazing-film-to-watch/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [My mother was Irish; she had this great sense of humor, and both my parents loved films. There was a very vibrant discourse about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/my-mother-was-irish-she-had-this-great-sense-of-humor-and-both-my/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) [Explore all 17 Martin Donovan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) ## More Allowed quotes > [I just think that things should be allowed to run their course, and not turned into a Disney ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-shaw/i-just-think-that-things-should-be-allowed-to-run-their-course-and/) [Fiona Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-shaw/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [There aren't traditions of freedom in a place like Iraq. They're going to have to come to grips with a concept that they hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wallop/there-aren-t-traditions-of-freedom-in-a-place-like-iraq-they-re-going/) [Malcolm Wallop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wallop/) > [One of the mistakes I made was thinking chickens and penguins could sing, just like all the other animals in the 'Muppets.' But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-mckenzie/one-of-the-mistakes-i-made-was-thinking-chickens-and-penguins-could/) [Bret McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-mckenzie/) > [I was allowed to believe things that weren't true and I would ask questions about them and talk about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/i-was-allowed-to-believe-things-that-weren-t-true-and-i-would-ask/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [I always wanted to make big action movies as a kid, and that was my dream. In a way, 'Swingers' was the thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-big-action-movies-as-a-kid-and-that-was-my/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [For years, I had a top secret clearance and never left Russia. Just once did I go to Bulgaria with my wife for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-kalashnikov/for-years-i-had-a-top-secret-clearance-and-never-left-russia-just/) [Mikhail Kalashnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-kalashnikov/) > [Keep in mind, I'm not allowed to be tough. I'm tamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/keep-in-mind-i-m-not-allowed-to-be-tough-i-m-tamed/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [As a child, we lived in flats, and I was never allowed pets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/as-a-child-we-lived-in-flats-and-i-was-never-allowed-pets/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [I'm not allowed to date. My dad said so. Not until I'm, like, 90.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-hogan/i-m-not-allowed-to-date-my-dad-said-so-not-until-i-m-like-90/) [Brooke Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-hogan/) > [I've grown up playing for some incredible coaches, and I don't think anybody's ever been as fortunate as I have in terms of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/i-ve-grown-up-playing-for-some-incredible-coaches-and-i-don-t-think/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [I respect Chris Brown. I'd like to call myself a friend - I don't know if I'm allowed to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-respect-chris-brown-i-d-like-to-call-myself-a-friend-i-don-t-know/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [I was never bothered about my position in the industry. If I had believed in it, I wouldn't have allowed anyone to get ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/i-was-never-bothered-about-my-position-in-the-industry-if-i-had/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [My family, they're story tellers. My mom is Irish, and my dad is Italian. In my family, we weren't allowed to watch TV while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/my-family-they-re-story-tellers-my-mom-is-irish-and-my-dad-is-italian/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [One should be allowed to choose one's burden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-butts/one-should-be-allowed-to-choose-one-s-burden/) [Mary Butts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-butts/) [Browse all 1,069 Allowed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's the very definition of freedom: to be allowed to develop our own creative potential to the fullest. But it doesn't have to be in the arts, obviously. In my case, I gravitated toward the arts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Donovan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/that-s-the-very-definition-of-freedom-to-be-allowed-to-develop-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Allowed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/that-s-the-very-definition-of-freedom-to-be-allowed-to-develop-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/martin-donovan-30825_allowed_that-s-the-very-definition-of-freedom-to_878400.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/martin-donovan-30825_allowed_that-s-the-very-definition-of-freedom-to_878400.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/martin-donovan-30825_allowed_that-s-the-very-definition-of-freedom-to_878400.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's the very definition of freedom: to be allowed to develop our own creative potential to the fullest…” — Martin Donovan", "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": "Martin Donovan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That's the very definition of freedom:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/that-s-the-very-definition-of-freedom-to-be-allowed-to-develop-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/that-s-the-very-definition-of-freedom-to-be-allowed-to-develop-our/#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 } } ] } ```