--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The essence of independence has been to…" description: "\"“The essence of independence has been to think and act according to standards from within , not without : to follow one's own path, not that of the cro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/nicholas-tharcher-93278_autonomy_the-essence-of-independence-has-been-to_2973783.jpg" --- # The essence of independence has been to think and act… ![“The essence of independence has been to think and act according to standards from within , not without : to follow one's own path, not that of the crowd.” quote by Nicholas Tharcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/nicholas-tharcher-93278_autonomy_the-essence-of-independence-has-been-to_2973783.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/nicholas-tharcher-93278_autonomy_the-essence-of-independence-has-been-to_2973783.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/nicholas-tharcher-93278_autonomy_the-essence-of-independence-has-been-to_2973783.jpg) > ““The essence of independence has been to think and act according to standards from within , not without : to follow one's own path, not that of the crowd.”” Nicholas Tharcher ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True independence arises from internal standards, not external conformity. **In simple terms:** Independence means following inner values. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal principles. Themes philosophy autonomy freedom selfhood Mood statement philosophical Type Autonomy:1 Freedom:1 Independence:1 Metaphysics:0 Philosophy:1 Act According:0 Essence Independence:0 Independence Think:0 Standards Follow:0 When to use this quote - Implementing internal standards can be socially challenging. Key Concepts personal decisions career choices creative projects Questions to Reflect On - thoughtful - empowering A Different Perspective How do you define your own standards?;What pressures resist internal autonomy? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autonomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomy/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Metaphysics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphysics/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) ## Related quotes > [The essence of independence has been to think and act according to standards from within, not without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/the-essence-of-independence-has-been-to-think-and-act-according-to/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [The essence of independence has been to think and act according to standards from within, not without. Inevitably anyone with an independent mind must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/the-essence-of-independence-has-been-to-think-and-act-according-to-2/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [The essence of independence is to be able to do something for one’s self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-essence-of-independence-is-to-be-able-to-do-something-for-one-s-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The essence of independence is to be able to do something for one’s self. Adults work to finish a task, but the child works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-essence-of-independence-is-to-be-able-to-do-something-for-one-s/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [I think it's a lovely idea, but it will not pass the Congress. I live in a world of realities. The policy of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-eshoo/i-think-it-s-a-lovely-idea-but-it-will-not-pass-the-congress-i-live/) [Anna Eshoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-eshoo/) > [But I think that Australians have a sort of independence, and I think that, rightly or wrongly, they tend to make their own decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-sutherland/but-i-think-that-australians-have-a-sort-of-independence-and-i-think/) [Joan Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-sutherland/) > [I think a common misperception about attuning and tending to a child's needs so constantly is that they don't grow in their independence, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-think-a-common-misperception-about-attuning-and-tending-to-a-child/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I want to remain that family farmer independence, which I think is so critical to this country. I think it's helped build this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-want-to-remain-that-family-farmer-independence-which-i-think-is-so/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [You just gotta act according to how you preach. And that depends on what you value, what your morals are, and whether you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/you-just-gotta-act-according-to-how-you-preach-and-that-depends-on/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [“A man act according to his thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/a-man-act-according-to-his-thoughts/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Right is not only to act within the law. It's to also act according to the conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/right-is-not-only-to-act-within-the-law-it-s-to-also-act-according-to/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [There is only one good. And that is to act according to the dictates of one's conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/there-is-only-one-good-and-that-is-to-act-according-to-the-dictates/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [The first step to be taken by everyone who wishes to act morally is to decide not to act according to the general customs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/the-first-step-to-be-taken-by-everyone-who-wishes-to-act-morally-is/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [Our minds can shape the way a thing will be because we act according to our expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/our-minds-can-shape-the-way-a-thing-will-be-because-we-act-according/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > [Always look at life in a positive way, for we all act according to our perception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-look-at-life-in-a-positive-way-for-we-all-act-according-to-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Nicholas Tharcher > [“Inevitably it follows that anyone with an independent mind must become 'one who resists or opposes an authority or established convention': a rebel .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-tharcher/inevitably-it-follows-that-anyone-with-an-independent-mind-must/) Nicholas Tharcher Explore all 2 Nicholas Tharcher quotes ## More Autonomy quotes > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) > [“The idea of autonomy denies that we are born into a world that existed prior to us. It posits an essential aloneness; an autonomous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-b-crawford/the-idea-of-autonomy-denies-that-we-are-born-into-a-world-that/) [Matthew B. Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-b-crawford/) > [It’s hard to feel attracted to someone who has abandoned her sense of autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/it-s-hard-to-feel-attracted-to-someone-who-has-abandoned-her-sense-of/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [The first step toward maintaining autonomy in any programmed environment is to be aware that there's programming going on. It's as simple as understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/the-first-step-toward-maintaining-autonomy-in-any-programmed/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [Autonomy is impossible as long as one is driven by anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/autonomy-is-impossible-as-long-as-one-is-driven-by-anything/) [Gabor Mate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [“Father had stretched out his long legs and was tilting back in his chair. Mother sat with her knees crossed, in blue slacks, smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/father-had-stretched-out-his-long-legs-and-was-tilting-back-in-his/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Throughout the last century there were multiple attempts at giving Afghan women more autonomy, to change marriage laws, to abolish the practice of bride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/throughout-the-last-century-there-were-multiple-attempts-at-giving/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [We could encourage the best qualities of youthfulness - curiosity, adventure, resilience, the capacity for surprising insight simply by being more flexible about time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/we-could-encourage-the-best-qualities-of-youthfulness-curiosity/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [“She isn't anybody's,' Rook said darkly. 'Son. she's not yours, either," Sarah Fleet said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaida-jones/she-isn-t-anybody-s-rook-said-darkly-son-she-s-not-yours-either-sarah/) [Jaida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaida-jones/) > [The Palestinian Arabs will have their autonomy, we will have our security. We shall live together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/the-palestinian-arabs-will-have-their-autonomy-we-will-have-our/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [Autonomy means women defining themselves and the values by which they will live, and beginning to think of institutional arrangements which will order their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/autonomy-means-women-defining-themselves-and-the-values-by-which-they/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [“Autonomous people assert themselves against the status quo. They don't accept the prevailing opinion just because it's the one given to them. Nothing creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brito/autonomous-people-assert-themselves-against-the-status-quo-they-don-t/) Maria Brito > [Black people cannot and will not become integrated into American society on any terms but those of self-determination and autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/black-people-cannot-and-will-not-become-integrated-into-american/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [The civil magistrate cannot function without some ethical guidance, without some standard of good and evil. If that standard is not to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-civil-magistrate-cannot-function-without-some-ethical-guidance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Who hath desires must ever fearful be; Who lives in fear cannot be counted free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burton/who-hath-desires-must-ever-fearful-be-who-lives-in-fear-cannot-be/) [Robert Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burton/) [Browse all 418 Autonomy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The essence of independence has been to think and act according to standards from within , not without : to follow one's own path, not that of the crowd.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicholas Tharcher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-tharcher/the-essence-of-independence-has-been-to-think-and-act-according-to-3/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Autonomy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-tharcher/the-essence-of-independence-has-been-to-think-and-act-according-to-3/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/nicholas-tharcher-93278_autonomy_the-essence-of-independence-has-been-to_2973783.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/nicholas-tharcher-93278_autonomy_the-essence-of-independence-has-been-to_2973783.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/nicholas-tharcher-93278_autonomy_the-essence-of-independence-has-been-to_2973783.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The essence of independence has been to think and act according to standards from within , not without : to…” — Nicholas Tharcher", "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": "Nicholas Tharcher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-tharcher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The essence of independence has been...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-tharcher/the-essence-of-independence-has-been-to-think-and-act-according-to-3/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-tharcher/the-essence-of-independence-has-been-to-think-and-act-according-to-3/#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 } } ] } ```