--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps it was freedom itself that choked…" description: "\"Perhaps it was freedom itself that choked her.\" — Patricia Highsmith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/patricia-highsmith-3982_freedom_perhaps-it-was-freedom-itself-that-choke_1504014.jpg" --- # Perhaps it was freedom itself that choked her. ![“Perhaps it was freedom itself that choked her.” quote by Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/patricia-highsmith-3982_freedom_perhaps-it-was-freedom-itself-that-choke_1504014.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/patricia-highsmith-3982_freedom_perhaps-it-was-freedom-itself-that-choke_1504014.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/patricia-highsmith-3982_freedom_perhaps-it-was-freedom-itself-that-choke_1504014.jpg) > “Perhaps it was freedom itself that choked her.” [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom can become oppressive when it exposes inner emptiness or fear. **In simple terms:** Freedom may feel suffocating. Key Takeaway Balance liberty with purpose. Themes psychology freedom conflict Mood introspective tense Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - creative work - relationship dynamics - social expectations Key Concepts existential dread self‑identity Questions to Reflect On - When does freedom become a burden? - How can one find meaning within liberty? A Different Perspective Too much freedom can lead to aimlessness without direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) ## Related quotes > [She was giving me oral sex, and she got carried away . . . So I choked her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-shawcross/she-was-giving-me-oral-sex-and-she-got-carried-away-so-i-choked-her/) Arthur Shawcross > [“Paxton choked on the tears that were gushing uncontrollably down his face. “This feels... a lot like falling,” he let out through his gasps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-duke/paxton-choked-on-the-tears-that-were-gushing-uncontrollably-down-his/) [Megan Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-duke/) > [“Do you believe in that world you spoke of, the one made for us?' She swallowed, nodding. Her soft lips were against his bare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/do-you-believe-in-that-world-you-spoke-of-the-one-made-for-us-she/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [“So, of course Rose decided this would be a good time to discuss such matters. “I would also like to know if you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/so-of-course-rose-decided-this-would-be-a-good-time-to-discuss-such/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [My Girlfriend just said that I should stop acting like an year old. I almost choked on her boobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/my-girlfriend-just-said-that-i-should-stop-acting-like-an-year-old-i/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“I'll put my hand in no man's hand,' said Mr. Micawber, gasping, puffing, and sobbing, to that degree that he was like a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-ll-put-my-hand-in-no-man-s-hand-said-mr-micawber-gasping-puffing/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Lucy was frightened, frightened near to death. Her voice choked, she could not breath, her limbs went numb. "This is not happening", she said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/lucy-was-frightened-frightened-near-to-death-her-voice-choked-she/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“He gestured at me. “That’s Belly.” “Belly?” she repeated. “Yup. She’s my girlfriend.” I think I choked out loud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/he-gestured-at-me-that-s-belly-belly-she-repeated-yup-she-s-my/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“Shut up.” She put her finger to his lips, and his voice choked off. She said slowly, “I’ve learned I can live without you.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-lucas/shut-up-she-put-her-finger-to-his-lips-and-his-voice-choked-off-she/) Jennie Lucas > [“Did ye not mention a game last week?” “Aye, but my duties have kept me away.” Alastair choked on his mead. “Ye have none.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-morgan/did-ye-not-mention-a-game-last-week-aye-but-my-duties-have-kept-me/) [Mary Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-morgan/) > [“I don't think we choked this time. We never played well enough to choke.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-matthews/i-don-t-think-we-choked-this-time-we-never-played-well-enough-to-choke/) Craig Matthews > [“ "What do you say, Miss Lyndon? Shall we have a go at it?" " 'Shall we have a go at it?' " Ellie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/what-do-you-say-miss-lyndon-shall-we-have-a-go-at-it-shall-we-have-a/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [The worst moment was when I was performing and I was about to sing, but I choked. I had a tickle in my throat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/the-worst-moment-was-when-i-was-performing-and-i-was-about-to-sing/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [As in 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff'?" The skull howled with laughter. "You just got your ass handed to you by a nursery tale?""I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/as-in-the-three-billy-goats-gruff-the-skull-howled-with-laughter-you/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“This isn't coffee," I accused immediately as the rich smell of chocolate met my nose, making me almost want to groan. Okay, I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-gadziala/this-isn-t-coffee-i-accused-immediately-as-the-rich-smell-of/) [Jessica Gadziala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-gadziala/) ## More by Patricia Highsmith > [“Thinking no more about it, he stepped off into that cool space, that fast descent to her, with nothing in his mind but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/thinking-no-more-about-it-he-stepped-off-into-that-cool-space-that/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [I didn't hang around films. I don't know if I'd ever seen Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/i-didn-t-hang-around-films-i-don-t-know-if-i-d-ever-seen-hitchcock-s/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [“I feel I stand in a desert with my hands outstretched, and you are raining down upon me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/i-feel-i-stand-in-a-desert-with-my-hands-outstretched-and-you-are/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [One situation – maybe one alone – could drive me to murder: family life, togetherness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/one-situation-maybe-one-alone-could-drive-me-to-murder-family-life/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [“He felt he was about to experience again some ancient, delicious childhood moment that the steam calliope's sour hollowness, the stitching hurdy-gurdy accompaniment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/he-felt-he-was-about-to-experience-again-some-ancient-delicious/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [“It was a kind of arrogance, perhaps, to believe so in one's destiny. But, on the other hand, who could be more genuinely humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/it-was-a-kind-of-arrogance-perhaps-to-believe-so-in-one-s-destiny-but/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [I should love to do a novel, about one abnormal character seeing present-day life, very ordinary life, yet arresting through it, abnormality, until at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/i-should-love-to-do-a-novel-about-one-abnormal-character-seeing/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [I don't set the alarm to get up. I get up when I feel like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/i-don-t-set-the-alarm-to-get-up-i-get-up-when-i-feel-like-it/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [“Dusk was falling quickly. It was just after 7 P.M., and the month was October.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/dusk-was-falling-quickly-it-was-just-after-7-p-m-and-the-month-was/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [“What chance combination of shadow and sound and his own thoughts had created it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/what-chance-combination-of-shadow-and-sound-and-his-own-thoughts-had/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [“Happiness was like a green vine spreading through her, stretching fine tendrils, bearing flowers through her flesh. She had a vision of a pale-white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/happiness-was-like-a-green-vine-spreading-through-her-stretching-fine/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [“That's exactly where you're wrong! Any kind of person can murder. Purely circumstances and not a thing to do with temperament! People get so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/that-s-exactly-where-you-re-wrong-any-kind-of-person-can-murder/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [What was it to love someone, what was love exactly, and why did it end or not end? Those were the real questions, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/what-was-it-to-love-someone-what-was-love-exactly-and-why-did-it-end/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [It always gets late with you. - Is that a compliment?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/it-always-gets-late-with-you-is-that-a-compliment/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [“Writing is a craft and needs constant practice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/writing-is-a-craft-and-needs-constant-practice/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) [Explore all 115 Patricia Highsmith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) ## More Choked quotes > [She was giving me oral sex, and she got carried away . . . So I choked her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-shawcross/she-was-giving-me-oral-sex-and-she-got-carried-away-so-i-choked-her/) Arthur Shawcross > [As in 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff'?" The skull howled with laughter. "You just got your ass handed to you by a nursery tale?""I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/as-in-the-three-billy-goats-gruff-the-skull-howled-with-laughter-you/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [The worst moment was when I was performing and I was about to sing, but I choked. I had a tickle in my throat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/the-worst-moment-was-when-i-was-performing-and-i-was-about-to-sing/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [“ "What do you say, Miss Lyndon? Shall we have a go at it?" " 'Shall we have a go at it?' " Ellie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/what-do-you-say-miss-lyndon-shall-we-have-a-go-at-it-shall-we-have-a/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“I don't think we choked this time. We never played well enough to choke.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-matthews/i-don-t-think-we-choked-this-time-we-never-played-well-enough-to-choke/) Craig Matthews > [“Did ye not mention a game last week?” “Aye, but my duties have kept me away.” Alastair choked on his mead. “Ye have none.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-morgan/did-ye-not-mention-a-game-last-week-aye-but-my-duties-have-kept-me/) [Mary Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-morgan/) > [“Shut up.” She put her finger to his lips, and his voice choked off. She said slowly, “I’ve learned I can live without you.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-lucas/shut-up-she-put-her-finger-to-his-lips-and-his-voice-choked-off-she/) Jennie Lucas > [“He gestured at me. “That’s Belly.” “Belly?” she repeated. “Yup. She’s my girlfriend.” I think I choked out loud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/he-gestured-at-me-that-s-belly-belly-she-repeated-yup-she-s-my/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“Lucy was frightened, frightened near to death. Her voice choked, she could not breath, her limbs went numb. "This is not happening", she said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/lucy-was-frightened-frightened-near-to-death-her-voice-choked-she/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“I'll put my hand in no man's hand,' said Mr. Micawber, gasping, puffing, and sobbing, to that degree that he was like a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-ll-put-my-hand-in-no-man-s-hand-said-mr-micawber-gasping-puffing/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [My Girlfriend just said that I should stop acting like an year old. I almost choked on her boobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/my-girlfriend-just-said-that-i-should-stop-acting-like-an-year-old-i/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“So, of course Rose decided this would be a good time to discuss such matters. “I would also like to know if you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/so-of-course-rose-decided-this-would-be-a-good-time-to-discuss-such/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [“Do you believe in that world you spoke of, the one made for us?' She swallowed, nodding. Her soft lips were against his bare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/do-you-believe-in-that-world-you-spoke-of-the-one-made-for-us-she/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [“Paxton choked on the tears that were gushing uncontrollably down his face. “This feels... a lot like falling,” he let out through his gasps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-duke/paxton-choked-on-the-tears-that-were-gushing-uncontrollably-down-his/) [Megan Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-duke/) > [“This isn't coffee," I accused immediately as the rich smell of chocolate met my nose, making me almost want to groan. Okay, I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-gadziala/this-isn-t-coffee-i-accused-immediately-as-the-rich-smell-of/) [Jessica Gadziala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-gadziala/) Browse all 193 Choked quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Perhaps it was freedom itself that choked her.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patricia Highsmith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/perhaps-it-was-freedom-itself-that-choked-her/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choked" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/perhaps-it-was-freedom-itself-that-choked-her/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/patricia-highsmith-3982_freedom_perhaps-it-was-freedom-itself-that-choke_1504014.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/patricia-highsmith-3982_freedom_perhaps-it-was-freedom-itself-that-choke_1504014.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/patricia-highsmith-3982_freedom_perhaps-it-was-freedom-itself-that-choke_1504014.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Perhaps it was freedom itself that choked her.” — Patricia Highsmith", "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": "Patricia Highsmith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Perhaps it was freedom itself that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/perhaps-it-was-freedom-itself-that-choked-her/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/perhaps-it-was-freedom-itself-that-choked-her/#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 } } ] } ```