--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We relinquished our freedom that day, and…" description: "\"We relinquished our freedom that day, and we were more than happy to see it go. From that moment on we lived in true freedom, the freedom to point to s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/max-brooks-2735_faults_we-relinquished-our-freedom-that-day-and_2149617.jpg" --- # We relinquished our freedom that day, and we were more… ![“We relinquished our freedom that day, and we were more than happy to see it go. From that moment on we lived in true freedom, the freedom to point to someone else and say “They told me to do it! It’s their fault, not mine.” The freedom, God help us, to say “I was only following orders.”-World War Z” quote by Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/max-brooks-2735_faults_we-relinquished-our-freedom-that-day-and_2149617.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/max-brooks-2735_faults_we-relinquished-our-freedom-that-day-and_2149617.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/max-brooks-2735_faults_we-relinquished-our-freedom-that-day-and_2149617.jpg) > “We relinquished our freedom that day, and we were more than happy to see it go. From that moment on we lived in true freedom, the freedom to point to someone else and say “They told me to do it! It’s their fault, not mine.” The freedom, God help us, to say “I was only following orders.”-World War Z” [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often escape responsibility by blaming higher authority, believing that following orders frees them from accountability. **In simple terms:** Blaming others lets us avoid guilt. Key Takeaway Take personal responsibility for actions. Themes responsibility authority guilt accountability Mood reflective critical serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - workplace - military - politics - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology social dynamics ethical behavior Questions to Reflect On - Why do we seek to deflect blame? - How does this affect trust? A Different Perspective Blame can sometimes be a protective coping mechanism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Following orders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following-orders/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [God help us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-help-us/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [True freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-freedom/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War of the worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-of-the-worlds/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) [World war z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war-z/) ## Related quotes > [I can feel freedom in the air. Yep, its time they set yer'ass loose, once again. 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I had a meeting… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/the-time-came-where-i-was-able-to-write-an-original-screenplay-allied/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) ## More by Max Brooks > [When I believe in my ability to do something, there is no such word as no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/when-i-believe-in-my-ability-to-do-something-there-is-no-such-word-as/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [Fear is the most valuable commodity in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/fear-is-the-most-valuable-commodity-in-the-universe/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [I think the general anxiety of the 1960s - '70s spawned our interest in the living dead. 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