--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Read about some squirrelly guy who claims…" description: "\"Read about some squirrelly guy who claims that he just don't believe in fighting, and I wonder how long the rest of us can count on being free.\" — Merl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/merle-haggard-8224_being-free_read-about-some-squirrelly-guy-who-claim_552172.png" --- # Read about some squirrelly guy who claims that he just… ![“Read about some squirrelly guy who claims that he just don't believe in fighting, and I wonder how long the rest of us can count on being free.” quote by Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/merle-haggard-8224_being-free_read-about-some-squirrelly-guy-who-claim_552172.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/merle-haggard-8224_being-free_read-about-some-squirrelly-guy-who-claim_552172.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/merle-haggard-8224_being-free_read-about-some-squirrelly-guy-who-claim_552172.png) > “Read about some squirrelly guy who claims that he just don't believe in fighting, and I wonder how long the rest of us can count on being free.” [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker doubts the durability of freedom if people avoid confronting conflict. **In simple terms:** Freedom may erode without confronting conflict Key Takeaway Consider confronting conflict to protect liberty Themes freedom conflict political engagement Mood reflective concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political activism - community organizing - personal advocacy Key Concepts civil responsibility social contract Questions to Reflect On - What conflicts are you avoiding? - How does confronting conflict strengthen freedom? A Different Perspective If conflict is avoided, oppression may grow unchecked ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-free/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-fighting-246467/) [Claims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claims/) [Don't believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-believe/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Guy Claims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy-claims-2836988/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Read Squirrelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-squirrelly-4594011/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [Obama is a guy who claims to be unaware that there was a Tea Party, a guy that's detached from the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/obama-is-a-guy-who-claims-to-be-unaware-that-there-was-a-tea-party-a/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [If some black man go out and start something, a riot or something or, I'm not going to jump in it and get killed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/if-some-black-man-go-out-and-start-something-a-riot-or-something-or-i/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [This kind of war, you've gotta believe in what you're fighting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/this-kind-of-war-you-ve-gotta-believe-in-what-you-re-fighting-for/) [John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/) > [I believe that what we are fighting here is not just a small group of people who have hijacked a religion, but it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tancredo/i-believe-that-what-we-are-fighting-here-is-not-just-a-small-group-of/) [Tom Tancredo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tancredo/) > [If there are things saying wrong about Sam Allardyce, believe you me, I will be fighting them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/if-there-are-things-saying-wrong-about-sam-allardyce-believe-you-me-i/) [Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/) > [I don't believe in fighting any dog period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-johnson/i-don-t-believe-in-fighting-any-dog-period/) [Anthony Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-johnson/) > [“Do you want to work with us?” “Everybody seems to think I should; they believe you’re fighting the good fight. It’s just that... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-m-banks/do-you-want-to-work-with-us-everybody-seems-to-think-i-should-they/) [Iain M. Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-m-banks/) > [If you are the best in the world, and you believe you should be fighting for a title, I think it is important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyron-woodley/if-you-are-the-best-in-the-world-and-you-believe-you-should-be/) [Tyron Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyron-woodley/) > [People would see a lot of times fighting as a ugly thing, as a thing that denigrates the human being. In reality, you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renzo-gracie/people-would-see-a-lot-of-times-fighting-as-a-ugly-thing-as-a-thing/) [Renzo Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renzo-gracie/) > [I, for one, am actually still incredibly idealistic, and I still can credibly or very strongly believe that you have to keep fighting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/i-for-one-am-actually-still-incredibly-idealistic-and-i-still-can/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [I believe in fighting for a relationship. But I don't believe in fighting for it alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-in-fighting-for-a-relationship-but-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We all believe in you two. We are all fighting for you. Do you know why?" She shook her head. She didn't have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elise-kova/we-all-believe-in-you-two-we-are-all-fighting-for-you-do-you-know-why/) [Elise Kova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elise-kova/) > [I don't talk about things like women power and this and that. Because I believe fighting for it is saying we are weaker. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/i-don-t-talk-about-things-like-women-power-and-this-and-that-because/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [“I used to believe that 'fighting for love no matter how hard the situation is' is the only thing to make our relationship work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahimsa-padmanaba-murfi/i-used-to-believe-that-fighting-for-love-no-matter-how-hard-the/) [Ahimsa Padmanaba Murfi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahimsa-padmanaba-murfi/) > [You can't win a battle unless you believe in what you're fighting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-win-a-battle-unless-you-believe-in-what-you-re-fighting-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Merle Haggard > [There's been periods of broadcasts in the past where you could see all ages of entertainers, ranging from George Burns to Shirley Temple. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/there-s-been-periods-of-broadcasts-in-the-past-where-you-could-see/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [At my age, I don't buy but a half a loaf of bread, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/at-my-age-i-don-t-buy-but-a-half-a-loaf-of-bread-you-know/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [It's been said that Bill Gates has come up with something that'll be released in December that's gonna put a lid on counterfeiting. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/it-s-been-said-that-bill-gates-has-come-up-with-something-that-ll-be/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [The thing that bothers me the most is the recklessness and greed of the local ranchers, who run too many cattle back here, choking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/the-thing-that-bothers-me-the-most-is-the-recklessness-and-greed-of/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [By the time you get close to the answers, it's nearly all over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/by-the-time-you-get-close-to-the-answers-it-s-nearly-all-over/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [Faith is the only way we're going to make it. None of us are smart enough to do it on our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/faith-is-the-only-way-we-re-going-to-make-it-none-of-us-are-smart/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [I just follow my nose, and instead of letting someone run my affairs and probably make me wealthy within a matter of years, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/i-just-follow-my-nose-and-instead-of-letting-someone-run-my-affairs/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [There's one thing I never did do, and that was stink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/there-s-one-thing-i-never-did-do-and-that-was-stink/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [I wish coke was still cola and a joint was a bad place to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/i-wish-coke-was-still-cola-and-a-joint-was-a-bad-place-to-be/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [I enjoy the videos with the sound off, where you can look at the belly buttons and everything. Really some pretty girls, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/i-enjoy-the-videos-with-the-sound-off-where-you-can-look-at-the-belly/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [There are so many conditions to programming in America, where it's dominated by these people that own 800 radio stations that have no idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/there-are-so-many-conditions-to-programming-in-america-where-it-s/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [I've got one young family by the first wife, with four children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/i-ve-got-one-young-family-by-the-first-wife-with-four-children/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [Heaven knows that alcohol is the worst thing in the world, but it's debatable whether cocaine is worse than caffeine or whether it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/heaven-knows-that-alcohol-is-the-worst-thing-in-the-world-but-it-s/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [We're turning into the society that is accepting the force-feed. I don't quite understand why we're going for the things we're going for. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/we-re-turning-into-the-society-that-is-accepting-the-force-feed-i-don/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [When I grew up there wasn't air-conditioning or anything of that nature, and this old car had a wall thickness of about ten inches.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/when-i-grew-up-there-wasn-t-air-conditioning-or-anything-of-that/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) [Explore all 83 Merle Haggard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) ## More Being free quotes > [Life is too short to be lived in pain and sorrow. Be a free soul; follow your heart's desire and fill the space in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-is-too-short-to-be-lived-in-pain-and-sorrow-be-a-free-soul/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa/yes-i-m-alone-but-i-m-alone-and-free/) [Elsa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa/) > [One of the greatest mental freedoms is truly not caring what anyone else thinks of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-greatest-mental-freedoms-is-truly-not-caring-what-anyone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is value in being free and spontaneous but the greatest power comes from seeing and using what results from that freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-katchen/there-is-value-in-being-free-and-spontaneous-but-the-greatest-power/) [Carole Katchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-katchen/) > [Faith keeps you strong. Love keeps you whole. And Happiness keeps you alive. So don't be a downer! Be happy, be strong, be free,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/faith-keeps-you-strong-love-keeps-you-whole-and-happiness-keeps-you/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Collective judgment of new ideas is so often wrong that it is arguable that progress depends on individuals being free to back their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-arthur-lewis/collective-judgment-of-new-ideas-is-so-often-wrong-that-it-is/) [W. Arthur Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-arthur-lewis/) > [You can only be free when even the desire of seeking freedom becomes a harness to you, and when you cease to speak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-only-be-free-when-even-the-desire-of-seeking-freedom-becomes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Christianity persecuted, tortured, and burned. Like a hound it tracked the very scent of heresy. It kindled wars, and nursed furious hatreds and ambitions...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/christianity-persecuted-tortured-and-burned-like-a-hound-it-tracked/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [The moment you stop caring about what other people think of you is when you'll know what true freedom is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-alfaro/the-moment-you-stop-caring-about-what-other-people-think-of-you-is/) [Lisette Alfaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-alfaro/) > [True independence means being free from the domination of your own internal automatic behaviors, not doing what you feel like when the urge strikes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lore/true-independence-means-being-free-from-the-domination-of-your-own/) [Nicholas Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lore/) > [I try when I'm writing to fill my head and my ears with all sorts of stuff and then let it settle and filter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gabriel/i-try-when-i-m-writing-to-fill-my-head-and-my-ears-with-all-sorts-of/) [Peter Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gabriel/) > [Feeling free inside oneself is being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/feeling-free-inside-oneself-is-being-free/) [Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/) > [Turn all the lights down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pob-bismark/turn-all-the-lights-down/) [POB Bismark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pob-bismark/) > [It’s about reaching that moment of pure ecstasy when a drawing just happens. Where every move you make with your hand and every thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/it-s-about-reaching-that-moment-of-pure-ecstasy-when-a-drawing-just/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [If you want to find happiness that will last, set yourself free from the ghosts of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/if-you-want-to-find-happiness-that-will-last-set-yourself-free-from/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) [Browse all 329 Being free quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-free/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Read about some squirrelly guy who claims that he just don't believe in fighting, and I wonder how long the rest of us can count on being free.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Merle Haggard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/read-about-some-squirrelly-guy-who-claims-that-he-just-don-t-believe/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being free" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/read-about-some-squirrelly-guy-who-claims-that-he-just-don-t-believe/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/merle-haggard-8224_being-free_read-about-some-squirrelly-guy-who-claim_552172.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/merle-haggard-8224_being-free_read-about-some-squirrelly-guy-who-claim_552172.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/merle-haggard-8224_being-free_read-about-some-squirrelly-guy-who-claim_552172.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Read about some squirrelly guy who claims that he just don't believe in fighting, and I wonder how long the…” — Merle Haggard", "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": "Merle Haggard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Read about some squirrelly guy who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/read-about-some-squirrelly-guy-who-claims-that-he-just-don-t-believe/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/read-about-some-squirrelly-guy-who-claims-that-he-just-don-t-believe/#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 } } ] } ```