--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: None can be free who is a slave to, and…" description: "\"None can be free who is a slave to, and ruled by, his passions.\" — Pythagoras" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ace/pythagoras-2290_freedom_none-can-be-free-who-is-a-slave-to-and-r_47470.jpg" --- # None can be free who is a slave to, and ruled by, his… ![“None can be free who is a slave to, and ruled by, his passions.” quote by Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ace/pythagoras-2290_freedom_none-can-be-free-who-is-a-slave-to-and-r_47470.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ace/pythagoras-2290_freedom_none-can-be-free-who-is-a-slave-to-and-r_47470.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ace/pythagoras-2290_freedom_none-can-be-free-who-is-a-slave-to-and-r_47470.jpg) > “None can be free who is a slave to, and ruled by, his passions.” [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom requires mastery over one's desires; being driven by unchecked passions enslaves the mind. **In simple terms:** Self‑control is essential for true liberty. Key Takeaway Control passions, gain freedom. Themes self‑mastery freedom psychology philosophy ethics Mood reflective determined Type aphorism philosophical quote When to use this quote - making personal decisions - overcoming addiction - leadership under stress Key Concepts willpower inner liberty Practical Applications - personal development coaching - behavioral therapy Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when a passion becomes a compulsion? - What practices help you regulate intense emotions? A Different Perspective Some argue that passions can inspire creativity and purpose, not just enslave. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Passions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passions/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) ## Related quotes > [I've always admitted that I'm ruled by my passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/i-ve-always-admitted-that-i-m-ruled-by-my-passions/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [The greatest slave is not he who is ruled by a despot, great though that evil be, but he who is in the thrall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-greatest-slave-is-not-he-who-is-ruled-by-a-despot-great-though/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [See, it's no in between: you're either free or you're a slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rap-brown/see-it-s-no-in-between-you-re-either-free-or-you-re-a-slave/) [H. Rap Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rap-brown/) > [“Like a cord between us, it binds me to you, where you go I must then follow. If you go too far, I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexia-purdy/like-a-cord-between-us-it-binds-me-to-you-where-you-go-i-must-then/) [Alexia Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexia-purdy/) > [“Sometimes one should stop figuring out the complexities of the universe one should just free the slave - rjs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rassool-jibraeel-snyman/sometimes-one-should-stop-figuring-out-the-complexities-of-the/) [rassool jibraeel snyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rassool-jibraeel-snyman/) > [We'll free every slave in every town and region. Can anybody get a bigger army than that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/we-ll-free-every-slave-in-every-town-and-region-can-anybody-get-a/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [“We are free when we are not the slave of our impulses, but rather their master.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/we-are-free-when-we-are-not-the-slave-of-our-impulses-but-rather-2/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [We are free when we are not the slave of our impulses, but rather their master. Taking inward distance, we thus become the authors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/we-are-free-when-we-are-not-the-slave-of-our-impulses-but-rather/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“St John from the book of The Revelation “He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-m-chiron/st-john-from-the-book-of-the-revelation-he-also-forced-everyone-small/) [Joseph M. Chiron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-m-chiron/) > [“If you are not strong enough to fight you have no choice but to accept the life of a slave. The hunter is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-un-mares/if-you-are-not-strong-enough-to-fight-you-have-no-choice-but-to/) [Théun Mares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-un-mares/) > [He that is kind is free, though he is a slave; he that is evil is a slave, though he be a king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/he-that-is-kind-is-free-though-he-is-a-slave-he-that-is-evil-is-a/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [“The good man is free, even if he is a slave. The evil man is a slave, even if he is a king.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/the-good-man-is-free-even-if-he-is-a-slave-the-evil-man-is-a-slave/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [The one who is good, is free even being a slave; the one who is bad remains a slave even being a king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-one-who-is-good-is-free-even-being-a-slave-the-one-who-is-bad/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [No one is truly free, they are a slave to wealth, fortune, the law, or other people restraining them from acting according to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/no-one-is-truly-free-they-are-a-slave-to-wealth-fortune-the-law-or/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“Try to free a slave with ignorance / Try and teach a whore about romance”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-westerberg/try-to-free-a-slave-with-ignorance-try-and-teach-a-whore-about-romance/) [Paul Westerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-westerberg/) ## More by Pythagoras > [The oldest, shortest words - 'yes' and 'no' - are those which require the most thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/the-oldest-shortest-words-yes-and-no-are-those-which-require-the-most/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [Truth is so great a perfection, that if God would render himself visible to men, he would choose light for his body and truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/truth-is-so-great-a-perfection-that-if-god-would-render-himself/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [Above all have respect for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/above-all-have-respect-for-yourself/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [“As long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/as-long-as-men-massacre-animals-they-will-kill-each-other-indeed-he/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [We ought so to behave to one another as to avoid making enemies of our friends, and at the same time to make friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/we-ought-so-to-behave-to-one-another-as-to-avoid-making-enemies-of/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [There is no word or action but has its echo in Eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/there-is-no-word-or-action-but-has-its-echo-in-eternity/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [Know thyself and thou wilt know the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/know-thyself-and-thou-wilt-know-the-universe/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [Geometry is knowledge of the eternally existent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/geometry-is-knowledge-of-the-eternally-existent/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [If there be light, then there is darkness; if cold, heat; if height, depth; if solid, fluid; if hard, soft; if rough, smooth; if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/if-there-be-light-then-there-is-darkness-if-cold-heat-if-height-depth/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [“There is geometry in the humming of the string.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/there-is-geometry-in-the-humming-of-the-string/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [Above the cloud with its shadow is the star with its light. Above all things reverence thyself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/above-the-cloud-with-its-shadow-is-the-star-with-its-light-above-all/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [If men with fleshly mortals must be fed, and chew with bleeding teeth the breathing bread; what else is this but to devour our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/if-men-with-fleshly-mortals-must-be-fed-and-chew-with-bleeding-teeth/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [The oldest, shortest words - yes and o - are those which require the most thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/the-oldest-shortest-words-yes-and-o-are-those-which-require-the-most/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [When the wise man opens his mouth, the beauties of his soul present themselves to the view, like the statues in a temple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/when-the-wise-man-opens-his-mouth-the-beauties-of-his-soul-present/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [Don't try to cover your mistakes with false words. Rather, correct your mistakes with examination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/don-t-try-to-cover-your-mistakes-with-false-words-rather-correct-your/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) [Explore all 174 Pythagoras quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. 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