--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did everything I can to be free and…" description: "\"I did everything I can to be free and escaped.\" — Park Yeon-mi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/park-yeon-mi-5169_did_i-did-everything-i-can-to-be-free-and-es_3163471.jpg" --- # I did everything I can to be free and escaped. ![“I did everything I can to be free and escaped.” quote by Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/park-yeon-mi-5169_did_i-did-everything-i-can-to-be-free-and-es_3163471.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/park-yeon-mi-5169_did_i-did-everything-i-can-to-be-free-and-es_3163471.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/park-yeon-mi-5169_did_i-did-everything-i-can-to-be-free-and-es_3163471.jpg) > “I did everything I can to be free and escaped.” [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) ## 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 emphasizes personal effort and determination in achieving freedom from constraints. **In simple terms:** Hard work led to personal liberation. Key Takeaway Value perseverance in pursuit of freedom. Themes freedom determination resilience Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational testimonial When to use this quote - activism - legal battles - self‑advocacy - education pursuits Key Concepts human rights personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What obstacles did you face? - How can others help in similar struggles? A Different Perspective Freedom often requires collective support, not just individual effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Did Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-free-1540483/) [Escaped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escaped/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free Escaped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-escaped-5727906/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) ## Related quotes > [I would pay 30 bucks for you to write this on the back of my I.d. but the reason its so special is because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-campbell/i-would-pay-30-bucks-for-you-to-write-this-on-the-back-of-my-i-d-but/) [Mike Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-campbell/) > [I never did anything for free. Other than dancing in clubs. I give that away for nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-vaughn/i-never-did-anything-for-free-other-than-dancing-in-clubs-i-give-that/) [Vince Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-vaughn/) > [The band and I really enjoy working for people who enjoy the music. I haven't made a bazillion dollars doing this. I do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/the-band-and-i-really-enjoy-working-for-people-who-enjoy-the-music-i/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I graduate with honors. I balled Nead O'Connor. I did a free style then I got a shoutout from Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/i-graduate-with-honors-i-balled-nead-o-connor-i-did-a-free-style-then/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [Jen, we did it. Everyone's free now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jen-we-did-it-everyone-s-free-now/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wasn't dreaming of freedom when I escaped from North Korea... I was willing to risk my life for the promise of a bowl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-wasn-t-dreaming-of-freedom-when-i-escaped-from-north-korea-i-was/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [ The death toll is not nearly high enough... too many \[jihadists\] have escaped. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-death-toll-is-not-nearly-high-enough-too-many-jihadists-have/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“In many ways, this place wasn’t so different from the lumberyards his men had recently escaped.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/in-many-ways-this-place-wasn-t-so-different-from-the-lumberyards-his/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [I close my eyes. An image flashes—emerging from the van with Julian after our escape from New York City; believing, in that moment, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-close-my-eyes-an-image-flashes-emerging-from-the-van-with-julian/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“Joe had run away, escaped without a trace, and come here to hide. But now he was ready to come home. The problem was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/joe-had-run-away-escaped-without-a-trace-and-come-here-to-hide-but/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“He was bewildered at how quickly he had escaped his old life and fallen into this new one with strangely pleasant crazy people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/he-was-bewildered-at-how-quickly-he-had-escaped-his-old-life-and/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [I tried to contain myself... but I escaped!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/i-tried-to-contain-myself-but-i-escaped/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [I'm scared of audiences. One show in Amsterdam I was so nervous, I escaped out the fire exit. I've thrown up a couple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/i-m-scared-of-audiences-one-show-in-amsterdam-i-was-so-nervous-i/) [Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/) > [I'm an escaped car thief. I broke out of prison to see the Cubs in the World Series.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-belushi/i-m-an-escaped-car-thief-i-broke-out-of-prison-to-see-the-cubs-in-the/) [James Belushi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-belushi/) > [“and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-i-only-am-escaped-alone-to-tell-thee/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More by Park Yeon-mi > [Risking your life is not an easy thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/risking-your-life-is-not-an-easy-thing-to-do/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [Going to Columbia, the first thing I learned was 'safe space.' Every problem, they explained us, is because of white men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/going-to-columbia-the-first-thing-i-learned-was-safe-space-every/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [I was a slave. I was sold in China in 2007 as a child at 13 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-was-a-slave-i-was-sold-in-china-in-2007-as-a-child-at-13-years-old/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [My mum was sold for $65 and I was sold for $260 - at the age of 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/my-mum-was-sold-for-65-and-i-was-sold-for-260-at-the-age-of-13/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [If there is no word that means you don't have the concept. In North Korea they eliminate the words: depression, stress, dictatorship, human rights.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/if-there-is-no-word-that-means-you-don-t-have-the-concept-in-north/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [My favorite movies were 'Titanic,' 'James Bond' and 'Pretty Woman' - people smuggled in pirate copies from China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/my-favorite-movies-were-titanic-james-bond-and-pretty-woman-people/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [Kim Jong-un and the regime don't just oppress - they play with human lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/kim-jong-un-and-the-regime-don-t-just-oppress-they-play-with-human/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [My father died without knowing even this kind of democracy exists in the world. He didn't even know this much food was available in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/my-father-died-without-knowing-even-this-kind-of-democracy-exists-in/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [That is what is happening in America. People see things, but still they've just completely lost the ability to think critically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/that-is-what-is-happening-in-america-people-see-things-but-still-they/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [North Korea is a religion. We are told that Kim is a god and that he knows what you are thinking and how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/north-korea-is-a-religion-we-are-told-that-kim-is-a-god-and-that-he/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [I had to be very unrealistic about my situation. If I was so realistic I would never have made it this far. So, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-had-to-be-very-unrealistic-about-my-situation-if-i-was-so-realistic/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [I thought North Koreans were the only people who hated Americans, but turns out there are a lot of people hating this country in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-thought-north-koreans-were-the-only-people-who-hated-americans-but/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [Back in 2014, at the One Young World Summit in Dublin, I shared my story of my escape from North Korea to China in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/back-in-2014-at-the-one-young-world-summit-in-dublin-i-shared-my/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [North Korea is a very Confucius country. We respect the elders, the hierarchy. It's not like America where anyone can step up and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/north-korea-is-a-very-confucius-country-we-respect-the-elders-the/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [Everything in North Korea was about the leader, all the books, music and TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/everything-in-north-korea-was-about-the-leader-all-the-books-music/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) [Explore all 103 Park Yeon-mi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) ## More Did quotes > [Hats off to starting a franchise younger than we all did in 'Twilight' and keeping your cool. The 'Harry Potter' men and women had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/hats-off-to-starting-a-franchise-younger-than-we-all-did-in-twilight/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Here we are 17 years later. Those agencies never did come through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/here-we-are-17-years-later-those-agencies-never-did-come-through/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) > [You didn't want to laugh, did you? It wasn't very funny, was it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-kennedy/you-didn-t-want-to-laugh-did-you-it-wasn-t-very-funny-was-it/) [Graham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-kennedy/) > [I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood and was raised by a man who did not emote, ever... I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [I met Tyler Perry and we did 'House of Payne' and a movie. We've done a couple other films since then, but it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-gross/i-met-tyler-perry-and-we-did-house-of-payne-and-a-movie-we-ve-done-a/) [Lance Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-gross/) > [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [I am excited to partner with Aeropostale for my very own collection. It was a great experience to be able to work with them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-mota/i-am-excited-to-partner-with-aeropostale-for-my-very-own-collection/) [Bethany Mota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-mota/) > [When we built Roomba, we explicitly designed it to not have a face. We didn't want to think it was cute; we wanted people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-angle/when-we-built-roomba-we-explicitly-designed-it-to-not-have-a-face-we/) [Colin Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-angle/) > [I turned to my mom and said, 'I'm going to be a martial arts movie star.' She didn't believe me, and neither did my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/i-turned-to-my-mom-and-said-i-m-going-to-be-a-martial-arts-movie-star/) [Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/) [Browse all 4,331 Did quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I did everything I can to be free and escaped.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Park Yeon-mi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-did-everything-i-can-to-be-free-and-escaped/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Did" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-did-everything-i-can-to-be-free-and-escaped/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/park-yeon-mi-5169_did_i-did-everything-i-can-to-be-free-and-es_3163471.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/park-yeon-mi-5169_did_i-did-everything-i-can-to-be-free-and-es_3163471.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/park-yeon-mi-5169_did_i-did-everything-i-can-to-be-free-and-es_3163471.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I did everything I can to be free and escaped.” — Park Yeon-mi", "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": "Park Yeon-mi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I did everything I can to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-did-everything-i-can-to-be-free-and-escaped/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-did-everything-i-can-to-be-free-and-escaped/#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 } } ] } ```