--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We don't think every man should be free…" description: "\"We don't think every man should be free to pass on everything to his descendants.\" — Pierre Trudeau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/pierre-trudeau-3495_descendants_we-don-t-think-every-man-should-be-free_2007899.jpg" --- # We don't think every man should be free to pass on… ![“We don't think every man should be free to pass on everything to his descendants.” quote by Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/pierre-trudeau-3495_descendants_we-don-t-think-every-man-should-be-free_2007899.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/pierre-trudeau-3495_descendants_we-don-t-think-every-man-should-be-free_2007899.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/pierre-trudeau-3495_descendants_we-don-t-think-every-man-should-be-free_2007899.jpg) > “We don't think every man should be free to pass on everything to his descendants.” [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that inheritance should not be unrestricted; society benefits when wealth and privileges are not endlessly passed down. **In simple terms:** Inheritance should be limited for fairness. Key Takeaway Consider policies that balance legacy and equity. Themes fairness inheritance social equity intergenerational justice Mood thoughtful critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - tax policy debates - family estate planning - public discourse on wealth gaps Key Concepts property rights wealth distribution social mobility Questions to Reflect On - How does inheritance affect social mobility? - What limits on inheritance are fair? A Different Perspective Unlimited inheritance can entrench inequality and reduce social mobility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Descendants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/descendants/) [Every man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) [Free Pass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-pass-1602586/) [Man Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-free/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pass/) [Pass Descendants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pass-descendants-3569148/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [When an opponent declares, "I will not come over to your side," I calmly say, "Your child belongs to us already...What are you? You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/when-an-opponent-declares-i-will-not-come-over-to-your-side-i-calmly/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Is any man free except the one who can pass his life as he pleases?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/is-any-man-free-except-the-one-who-can-pass-his-life-as-he-pleases/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do not think athletes should get a free pass. I don't think we should train our children and future athletes to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armstrong-williams/i-do-not-think-athletes-should-get-a-free-pass-i-don-t-think-we/) [Armstrong Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armstrong-williams/) > [“Tonight is your one free pass. Just know that the next time you look at me this way, I'll feel compelled to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/tonight-is-your-one-free-pass-just-know-that-the-next-time-you-look/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [Life is going to happen to you no matter what weight you are, no matter how famous you are, no matter how much money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-de-cadenet/life-is-going-to-happen-to-you-no-matter-what-weight-you-are-no/) [Amanda de Cadenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-de-cadenet/) > [“Taking the metaphors literally gives them a free pass to duck out of the real heavy lifting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-chercover/taking-the-metaphors-literally-gives-them-a-free-pass-to-duck-out-of/) [Sean Chercover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-chercover/) > [“You fell asleep in my bed with nothing on. I believe that's a free pass for any man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-morris/you-fell-asleep-in-my-bed-with-nothing-on-i-believe-that-s-a-free/) [Liv Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-morris/) > [Should those whose actions lead to the death or injury of a child get a free pass?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lautenberg/should-those-whose-actions-lead-to-the-death-or-injury-of-a-child-get/) [Frank Lautenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lautenberg/) > [The Channel is an international waterway through which the Russians are quite free to pass - and over which we have no exclusive right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hitchens/the-channel-is-an-international-waterway-through-which-the-russians/) [Peter Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hitchens/) > [As a white person living your life, everything is built for and normalised for you - you have a free pass to live your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-dimoldenberg/as-a-white-person-living-your-life-everything-is-built-for-and/) [Amelia Dimoldenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-dimoldenberg/) > [“Forgiving someone else doesn't give them a free pass. It gives you a free pass to move on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/forgiving-someone-else-doesn-t-give-them-a-free-pass-it-gives-you-a/) [Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/) > [I always felt that acting was an escape, like having the secret key to every door and permission to go into any realm and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-always-felt-that-acting-was-an-escape-like-having-the-secret-key-to/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [“No one gets a free pass. None of us are guaranteed a perfectly pleasant journey free of hardship, struggle, and pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-soukup/no-one-gets-a-free-pass-none-of-us-are-guaranteed-a-perfectly/) [Ruth Soukup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-soukup/) > [Nobody gets a free pass in life, and that's awesomely true for a drag queen or anyone else in the LGBT community. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-edwards/nobody-gets-a-free-pass-in-life-and-that-s-awesomely-true-for-a-drag/) [Alyssa Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-edwards/) > [Not only does democracy make every man forget his ancestors, but also clouds their view of their descendants and isolates them from their contemporaries.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/not-only-does-democracy-make-every-man-forget-his-ancestors-but-also/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) ## More by Pierre Trudeau > [Liberalism is the philosophy for our time, because it does not try to conserve every tradition of the past, because it does not apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/liberalism-is-the-philosophy-for-our-time-because-it-does-not-try-to/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Obviously, the state's responsibility should be to legislate rules for a well-ordered society. It has no right or duty to creep into the bedrooms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/obviously-the-state-s-responsibility-should-be-to-legislate-rules-for/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-a-country-whose-main-exports-are-hockey-players-and-cold/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [In specific terms I don't think I could make any suggestions, but in general terms I believe that it is because Canadians have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/in-specific-terms-i-don-t-think-i-could-make-any-suggestions-but-in/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [I think that religions must seek peace and love and therefore be pacifist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-think-that-religions-must-seek-peace-and-love-and-therefore-be/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Freedom can flow from order. That is not to say that freedom always flows from order because you can have a totalitarian order and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/freedom-can-flow-from-order-that-is-not-to-say-that-freedom-always/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Every time I have a political rally I meet some people who say, "I need a job."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/every-time-i-have-a-political-rally-i-meet-some-people-who-say-i-need/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [I'm far from believing that we've solved the problem of violence in the 20th century and that's why I'm not discouraged that we still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-m-far-from-believing-that-we-ve-solved-the-problem-of-violence-in/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [The Jesuits were good educators, exceptional teachers. In an era and in a society where freedom of speech was not held in high regard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/the-jesuits-were-good-educators-exceptional-teachers-in-an-era-and-in/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Americans should never underestimate the constant pressure on Canada which the mere presence of the United States has produced. We're different people from you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/americans-should-never-underestimate-the-constant-pressure-on-canada/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [I must say that "Give Peace a Chance" has always seemed to me to be sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-must-say-that-give-peace-a-chance-has-always-seemed-to-me-to-be/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation. What's done in private between adults doesn't concern the Criminal Code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/there-s-no-place-for-the-state-in-the-bedrooms-of-the-nation-what-s/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [I think all of us, politicians and churchmen, should do our utmost to change the society so that there would be no need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-think-all-of-us-politicians-and-churchmen-should-do-our-utmost-to/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [The Canadian community must invest, for the defence and better appreciation of the French language, as much time, energy, and money as are required…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/the-canadian-community-must-invest-for-the-defence-and-better/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Perhaps the rediscovery of our humanity, and the potential of the human spirit which we have read about in legends of older civilizations, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/perhaps-the-rediscovery-of-our-humanity-and-the-potential-of-the/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) [Explore all 129 Pierre Trudeau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) ## More Descendants quotes > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [I will be known forever as the Puppy who chased a cutpurse and caught fish garbage instead. My descendants will pretend I'm not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/i-will-be-known-forever-as-the-puppy-who-chased-a-cutpurse-and-caught/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [We examine and highlight the history of the African descendants in America, and know that each and every one of us has come this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-clarke/we-examine-and-highlight-the-history-of-the-african-descendants-in/) [Yvette Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-clarke/) > [I would rather my descendants have greater abilities and a greater knowledge of the love of Christ than I do, much like standing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/i-would-rather-my-descendants-have-greater-abilities-and-a-greater/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“European emigrants and their descendants are all over the place, which requires explanation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-w-crosby/european-emigrants-and-their-descendants-are-all-over-the-place-which/) [Alfred W. Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-w-crosby/) > [Take the story of Cain and Abel. Why were we given that story? Scientifically, you may have an explanation for it, but I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/take-the-story-of-cain-and-abel-why-were-we-given-that-story/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [When we build ... let it not be for present delights nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/when-we-build-let-it-not-be-for-present-delights-nor-for-present-use/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [All of our people all over the country-except the pure-blooded Indians-are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/all-of-our-people-all-over-the-country-except-the-pure-blooded/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“It is not the self respect and pride that you take with you, but the heritage you leave behind to your children that matters.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-is-not-the-self-respect-and-pride-that-you-take-with-you-but-the/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I don't know exactly why the notion of homeownership has such a grasp on the American imagination. Perhaps as descendants of landless immigrants we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/i-don-t-know-exactly-why-the-notion-of-homeownership-has-such-a-grasp/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [“We are the direct descendants of millions of freaks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-de-sousa/we-are-the-direct-descendants-of-millions-of-freaks/) [Ronnie de Sousa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-de-sousa/) > [“The descendants of Joktan dwelt from Mesha to Sephar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-john-courtenay/the-descendants-of-joktan-dwelt-from-mesha-to-sephar/) [James John Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-john-courtenay/) > [Iraqi fighters on the front lines, You courageous officers and soldiers who have been fighting valiantly and efficiently - you have restored the glories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saddam-hussein/iraqi-fighters-on-the-front-lines-you-courageous-officers-and/) [Saddam Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saddam-hussein/) > [Religion's greatest "sin" lies in displacing human endeavor, thought, time, resources and efforts from this world, our only world, in order to exalt a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-laurie-gaylor/religion-s-greatest-sin-lies-in-displacing-human-endeavor-thought/) [Annie Laurie Gaylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-laurie-gaylor/) > [“Senescence begins And middle-age ends The day your descendants Outnumber your friends”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/senescence-begins-and-middle-age-ends-the-day-your-descendants/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) [Browse all 213 Descendants quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/descendants/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We don't think every man should be free to pass on everything to his descendants.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pierre Trudeau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/we-don-t-think-every-man-should-be-free-to-pass-on-everything-to-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Descendants" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/we-don-t-think-every-man-should-be-free-to-pass-on-everything-to-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/pierre-trudeau-3495_descendants_we-don-t-think-every-man-should-be-free_2007899.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/pierre-trudeau-3495_descendants_we-don-t-think-every-man-should-be-free_2007899.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/pierre-trudeau-3495_descendants_we-don-t-think-every-man-should-be-free_2007899.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We don't think every man should be free to pass on everything to his descendants.” — Pierre Trudeau", "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": "Pierre Trudeau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We don't think every man should...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/we-don-t-think-every-man-should-be-free-to-pass-on-everything-to-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/we-don-t-think-every-man-should-be-free-to-pass-on-everything-to-his/#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 } } ] } ```