--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Freedom is the emancipation from the…" description: "\"Freedom is the emancipation from the arbitrary rule of other men.\" — Mortimer Adler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6c/mortimer-adler-8067_arbitrary_freedom-is-the-emancipation-from-the-arb_3167960.jpg" --- # Freedom is the emancipation from the arbitrary rule of… ![“Freedom is the emancipation from the arbitrary rule of other men.” quote by Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6c/mortimer-adler-8067_arbitrary_freedom-is-the-emancipation-from-the-arb_3167960.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6c/mortimer-adler-8067_arbitrary_freedom-is-the-emancipation-from-the-arb_3167960.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6c/mortimer-adler-8067_arbitrary_freedom-is-the-emancipation-from-the-arb_3167960.jpg) > “Freedom is the emancipation from the arbitrary rule of other men.” [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) ## 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 being released from others' arbitrary control, allowing self‑determination. **In simple terms:** Freedom is self‑determination. Key Takeaway Seek autonomy, question arbitrary authority. Themes autonomy authority individualism Mood reflective critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - education - workplace - personal relationships - government policy Key Concepts political philosophy liberty Questions to Reflect On - What rules feel arbitrary to you? - How do you balance personal freedom with social responsibility? A Different Perspective Freedom can be limited by necessary social rules. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary/) [Arbitrary Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary-rule-1402949/) [Emancipation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emancipation/) [Emancipation Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emancipation-arbitrary-5754251/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Emancipation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-emancipation-3646773/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Rule Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-men-798912/) ## Related quotes > [To choose evil is to choose freedom, emancipation from all restraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bataille/to-choose-evil-is-to-choose-freedom-emancipation-from-all-restraint/) [Georges Bataille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bataille/) > [By giving the government unlimited powers, the most arbitrary rule can be made legal; and in this way a democracy may set up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/by-giving-the-government-unlimited-powers-the-most-arbitrary-rule-can/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [ Fascism is \[...\] arbitrary rule by a charismatic head of state. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-r-machan/fascism-is-arbitrary-rule-by-a-charismatic-head-of-state/) [Tibor R. Machan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-r-machan/) > [A state that denies its citizens their basic rights becomes a danger to its neighbors as well: internal arbitrary rule will be reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/a-state-that-denies-its-citizens-their-basic-rights-becomes-a-danger/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Arbitrary rule has its basis, not in the strength of the state or the chief, but in the moral weakness of the individual, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-ratzel/arbitrary-rule-has-its-basis-not-in-the-strength-of-the-state-or-the/) [Friedrich Ratzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-ratzel/) > [Emancipation of human labor from economic servitude and exploitation, i.e., from organizations of production in which the conditions of work are determined by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/emancipation-of-human-labor-from-economic-servitude-and-exploitation/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [The controversy between rule of law and rule of men was never relevant to women because, along with juveniles, imbeciles, and other classes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freda-adler/the-controversy-between-rule-of-law-and-rule-of-men-was-never/) [Freda Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freda-adler/) > [Beneath the rule of men entirely great, the pen is mightier than the sword.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/beneath-the-rule-of-men-entirely-great-the-pen-is-mightier-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm basically different things to different people. If it's a guy, I'm-a probably have my guard up because it's a street rule that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/i-m-basically-different-things-to-different-people-if-it-s-a-guy-i-m/) [The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/) > [If you are to rule men, you must rule them through their own ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/if-you-are-to-rule-men-you-must-rule-them-through-their-own-ideas/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“A Government is not free to do as it pleases…. The law of nature stands as an eternal rule to all men, legislators as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boaz/a-government-is-not-free-to-do-as-it-pleases-the-law-of-nature-stands/) [David Boaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boaz/) > [Realists are, as a rule, only men in the rut of routine who are incapable of transcending a narrow circle of antiquated notions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-herzl/realists-are-as-a-rule-only-men-in-the-rut-of-routine-who-are/) [Theodor Herzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-herzl/) > [Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/circumstances-rule-men-men-do-not-rule-circumstances/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Men rule the world,women rule men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russyb/men-rule-the-world-women-rule-men/) [Russyb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russyb/) > [As a rule, men worry more about what they can't see than about what they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/as-a-rule-men-worry-more-about-what-they-can-t-see-than-about-what/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) ## More by Mortimer Adler > [I wonder if most people ever ask themselves why love is connected with reproduction. And if they do ask themselves about this, I wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/i-wonder-if-most-people-ever-ask-themselves-why-love-is-connected/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [A good book can teach you about the world and about yourself. You learn more than how to read better; you also learn more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/a-good-book-can-teach-you-about-the-world-and-about-yourself-you/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [We are selfish when we are exclusively or predominantly concerned with the good for ourselves. We are altruistic when we are exclusively or predominantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/we-are-selfish-when-we-are-exclusively-or-predominantly-concerned/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Habits are formed by the repetition of particular acts. They are strengthened by an increase in the number of repeated acts. Habits are also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/habits-are-formed-by-the-repetition-of-particular-acts-they-are/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [There is a strange fact about the human mind, a fact that differentiates the mind sharply from the body. The body is limited in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/there-is-a-strange-fact-about-the-human-mind-a-fact-that/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [The complexities of adult life get in the way of the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/the-complexities-of-adult-life-get-in-the-way-of-the-truth/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Think how different human societies would be if they were based on love rather than justice. But no such societies have ever existed on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/think-how-different-human-societies-would-be-if-they-were-based-on/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [I suspect that most of the individuals who have religious faith are content with blind faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/i-suspect-that-most-of-the-individuals-who-have-religious-faith-are/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Teachers may think they are stuffing minds, but all they are ever affecting is the memory. Nothing can ever be forced into anyone's mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/teachers-may-think-they-are-stuffing-minds-but-all-they-are-ever/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [The love which moves the world, according to common Christian belief, is God's love and the love of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/the-love-which-moves-the-world-according-to-common-christian-belief/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Being influential is not the mark of a great book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/being-influential-is-not-the-mark-of-a-great-book/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Angels are able to know and understand better than the human intellect can, precisely because such knowledge and understanding comes to them by way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/angels-are-able-to-know-and-understand-better-than-the-human/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Men value things in three ways: as useful, as pleasant or sources of pleasure, and as excellent, or as intrinsically admirable or honorable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/men-value-things-in-three-ways-as-useful-as-pleasant-or-sources-of/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Erotic or sexual love can truly be love if it is not selfishly sexual or lustful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/erotic-or-sexual-love-can-truly-be-love-if-it-is-not-selfishly-sexual/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [I suspect that most of the individuals who have religious faith are content with blind faith. They feel no obligation to understand what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/i-suspect-that-most-of-the-individuals-who-have-religious-faith-are-2/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) [Explore all 84 Mortimer Adler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) ## More Arbitrary quotes > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [Not to be offensive, not to be capricious, not to be arbitrary, not to be neurotic, not to be an actor outer, you're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hurt/not-to-be-offensive-not-to-be-capricious-not-to-be-arbitrary-not-to/) [William Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurt/) > [I don't concern myself with thinking ahead to the finished product. I focus more specifically on what the character is experiencing. Once you relieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-thinking-ahead-to-the-finished-product-i/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-master-for-me-to-submit-to/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [I look back, now, and I know that the naming moment, which seemed so insignificant then, which seemed to demand no more than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-look-back-now-and-i-know-that-the-naming-moment-which-seemed-so/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. Arbitrary detention, torture and discrimination hurt the human dignity of anybody, whatever his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/contrary-to-what-certain-governments-say-human-rights-are-universal/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [What causes adolescents to rebel is not the assertion of authority but the arbitrary use of power, with little explanation of the rules and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-steinberg/what-causes-adolescents-to-rebel-is-not-the-assertion-of-authority/) [Laurence Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-steinberg/) > [There is something on earth greater than arbitrary or despotic power. The lightning has its power, and the whirlwind has its power, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/there-is-something-on-earth-greater-than-arbitrary-or-despotic-power/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [“nothing is arbitrary in this whole world, there is a good reason behind each and everything…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-kumar/nothing-is-arbitrary-in-this-whole-world-there-is-a-good-reason/) [Nikhil Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-kumar/) > [Fundamentally, adopting rules without any estimate of the impact is the height of arbitrary decision-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-rielly/fundamentally-adopting-rules-without-any-estimate-of-the-impact-is/) [Michael O'Rielly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-rielly/) > [No arbitrary regulation, no act of the legislature, can add anything to the capital of the country; it can only force it into artificial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ramsay-mcculloch/no-arbitrary-regulation-no-act-of-the-legislature-can-add-anything-to/) [John Ramsay McCulloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ramsay-mcculloch/) > [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) [Browse all 529 Arbitrary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Freedom is the emancipation from the arbitrary rule of other men.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mortimer Adler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/freedom-is-the-emancipation-from-the-arbitrary-rule-of-other-men/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arbitrary" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/freedom-is-the-emancipation-from-the-arbitrary-rule-of-other-men/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6c/mortimer-adler-8067_arbitrary_freedom-is-the-emancipation-from-the-arb_3167960.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6c/mortimer-adler-8067_arbitrary_freedom-is-the-emancipation-from-the-arb_3167960.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6c/mortimer-adler-8067_arbitrary_freedom-is-the-emancipation-from-the-arb_3167960.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Freedom is the emancipation from the arbitrary rule of other men.” — Mortimer Adler", "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": "Mortimer Adler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Freedom is the emancipation from the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/freedom-is-the-emancipation-from-the-arbitrary-rule-of-other-men/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/freedom-is-the-emancipation-from-the-arbitrary-rule-of-other-men/#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 } } ] } ```