--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True freedom is understanding that we…" description: "\"True freedom is understanding that we have a choice in who and what we allow to have power over us.\" — Meryl Streep" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/meryl-streep-1078_choice_true-freedom-is-understanding-that-we-ha_3101290.jpg" --- # True freedom is understanding that we have a choice in who… ![“True freedom is understanding that we have a choice in who and what we allow to have power over us.” quote by Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/meryl-streep-1078_choice_true-freedom-is-understanding-that-we-ha_3101290.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/meryl-streep-1078_choice_true-freedom-is-understanding-that-we-ha_3101290.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/meryl-streep-1078_choice_true-freedom-is-understanding-that-we-ha_3101290.jpg) > “True freedom is understanding that we have a choice in who and what we allow to have power over us.” [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing that personal agency lies in deciding who influences us. **In simple terms:** We control who holds power over us. Key Takeaway Choose your influences wisely. Themes freedom choice personal power Mood reflective empowering Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership decisions - personal relationships - career negotiations - media consumption Key Concepts agency self-determination psychology Questions to Reflect On - Who currently influences you without your consent? - How can you reclaim authority over your choices? A Different Perspective Power dynamics can be subtle and hard to detect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Allow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-allow-2867943/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-understanding-4261574/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [True freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-freedom/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-choice-5375944/) ## Related quotes > [Freedom is about a way of thinking. Freedom is about understanding that you can do anything that you want and freedom is about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stedman-graham/freedom-is-about-a-way-of-thinking-freedom-is-about-understanding/) [Stedman Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stedman-graham/) > [“All the things you’ve been trying to get from these relationships—freedom, understanding, fairness, acceptance—are exactly the things that you never got from your mom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-strauss/all-the-things-you-ve-been-trying-to-get-from-these-relationships/) [Neil Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-strauss/) > [We have a choice: we can allow the growing disparity between rich and poor to continue unimpeded, or we can take action to budget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/we-have-a-choice-we-can-allow-the-growing-disparity-between-rich-and/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [God will come into your plans. But the choice is yours whether you allow Him to begin it, or force Him to end it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberts-liardon/god-will-come-into-your-plans-but-the-choice-is-yours-whether-you/) [Roberts Liardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberts-liardon/) > [This, then, is my choice: I can allow the events of my life to happen to me. 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And yet no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-olson/no-truth-is-more-pervasive-in-scripture-and-christian-tradition-than/) [Roger Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-olson/) > [“Brontë was attempting to depict a character that adheres to the unchanging principles of her faith though she refused conformity to the particular practices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-swallow-prior/bront-was-attempting-to-depict-a-character-that-adheres-to-the/) [Karen Swallow Prior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-swallow-prior/) > [I would actually love to fly. I think that that would be probably the most exhilarating feeling, and as close as you can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-larter/i-would-actually-love-to-fly-i-think-that-that-would-be-probably-the/) [Ali Larter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-larter/) > [True freedom is an inward state of being. Once it is attained, no situation in the world can bind one or limit one's freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/true-freedom-is-an-inward-state-of-being-once-it-is-attained-no/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) ## More by Meryl Streep > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I do honestly think that if women were running the world there would be more investment in peace, because basically as women we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-do-honestly-think-that-if-women-were-running-the-world-there-would/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [My feeling about fears is, if you voice your fears, they may come true. I'm superstitious enough to believe that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/my-feeling-about-fears-is-if-you-voice-your-fears-they-may-come-true/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The work itself is the reward, and if I choose challenging work, it'll pay me back with interest. At least I'll be interested, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/the-work-itself-is-the-reward-and-if-i-choose-challenging-work-it-ll/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [This act of empathy, that women go through from the time we're little girls - we read all of literature, all of history, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/this-act-of-empathy-that-women-go-through-from-the-time-we-re-little/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Some men can maintain cragginess and weary masculinity. Women just get old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/some-men-can-maintain-cragginess-and-weary-masculinity-women-just-get/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Well, I got better after this, and my entire family really did appreciate it. Usually, they're resentful of movies that I go off and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/well-i-got-better-after-this-and-my-entire-family-really-did/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Acting is not about being someone different. It's finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/acting-is-not-about-being-someone-different-it-s-finding-the/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I didn't really like opera. I liked cheerleading and boys and, later, smoking. So my opera career was cut short when I was 15.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-didn-t-really-like-opera-i-liked-cheerleading-and-boys-and-later/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Life is all about making choices and I'm very happy with mine. I have had a wonderful time raising four children and I've also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/life-is-all-about-making-choices-and-i-m-very-happy-with-mine-i-have/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Leave me to the thing I love. I love acting. But being called 'the greatest living actress' - a designation not even my mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/leave-me-to-the-thing-i-love-i-love-acting-but-being-called-the/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I have a very busy life, and not many people who have a career and four kids go out a lot to the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-have-a-very-busy-life-and-not-many-people-who-have-a-career-and/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I go to a lot of movies where people are all around me laughing, and I feel like I'm from outer space because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-go-to-a-lot-of-movies-where-people-are-all-around-me-laughing-and-i/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [People say, When you have children, everything changes. But maybe things are awakened that were already there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/people-say-when-you-have-children-everything-changes-but-maybe-things/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [You have to embrace getting older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/you-have-to-embrace-getting-older/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) [Explore all 296 Meryl Streep quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“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/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "True freedom is understanding that we have a choice in who and what we allow to have power over us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Meryl Streep" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/true-freedom-is-understanding-that-we-have-a-choice-in-who-and-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/true-freedom-is-understanding-that-we-have-a-choice-in-who-and-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/meryl-streep-1078_choice_true-freedom-is-understanding-that-we-ha_3101290.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/meryl-streep-1078_choice_true-freedom-is-understanding-that-we-ha_3101290.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/meryl-streep-1078_choice_true-freedom-is-understanding-that-we-ha_3101290.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“True freedom is understanding that we have a choice in who and what we allow to have power over us.” — Meryl Streep", "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": "Meryl Streep", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "True freedom is understanding that we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/true-freedom-is-understanding-that-we-have-a-choice-in-who-and-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/true-freedom-is-understanding-that-we-have-a-choice-in-who-and-what/#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 } } ] } ```