--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is more disgusting than the…" description: "\"Nothing is more disgusting than the crowing about liberty by slaves, as most men are, and the flippant mistaking for freedom of some paper preamble lik..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_declaration_nothing-is-more-disgusting-than-the-crow_37995.png" --- # Nothing is more disgusting than the crowing about liberty… ![“Nothing is more disgusting than the crowing about liberty by slaves, as most men are, and the flippant mistaking for freedom of some paper preamble like a Declaration of Independence, or the statute right to vote, by those who have never dared to think or to act.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_declaration_nothing-is-more-disgusting-than-the-crow_37995.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_declaration_nothing-is-more-disgusting-than-the-crow_37995.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_declaration_nothing-is-more-disgusting-than-the-crow_37995.png) > “Nothing is more disgusting than the crowing about liberty by slaves, as most men are, and the flippant mistaking for freedom of some paper preamble like a Declaration of Independence, or the statute right to vote, by those who have never dared to think or to act.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote condemns superficial claims of liberty by those who lack true independence of thought and action, equating hollow rhetoric with genuine freedom. **In simple terms:** True liberty requires critical thought and courageous action. Key Takeaway Freedom is empty without personal responsibility. Themes Freedom Hypocrisy Individualism Courage Political rhetoric Mood Defiant Reflective Skeptical Type Political Philosophical When to use this quote - Political speeches - Social movements - Educational settings - Activist gatherings Key Concepts Liberty Self-reliance Civic duty Intellectual autonomy Practical Applications - Encouraging critical civic education - Designing programs that foster personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to truly be free? - How can societies nurture authentic liberty? A Different Perspective Some argue that legal rights alone constitute freedom, but the quote suggests deeper personal agency is essential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Declaration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration/) [Declaration of independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration-of-independence/) [Flippant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flippant/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Preamble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preamble/) [Right to vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-vote/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [Liberty is not for these slaves; I do not advocate inflicting it against their conscience. On the contrary, I am strongly in favor of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/liberty-is-not-for-these-slaves-i-do-not-advocate-inflicting-it/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [The sky is dark. But to understand something is to give light. Those who deny liberty to the slaves may have white skins, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-baldorioty-de-castro/the-sky-is-dark-but-to-understand-something-is-to-give-light-those/) Roman Baldorioty de Castro > [Few persons enjoy real liberty; we are all slaves to ideas or habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-de-musset/few-persons-enjoy-real-liberty-we-are-all-slaves-to-ideas-or-habits/) [Alfred de Musset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-de-musset/) > [If men use their liberty in such a way as to surrender their liberty, are they thereafter any the less slaves? If people by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/if-men-use-their-liberty-in-such-a-way-as-to-surrender-their-liberty/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Every one who has a heart and eyes sees that you, working men, are obliged to pass your lives in want and in hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/every-one-who-has-a-heart-and-eyes-sees-that-you-working-men-are/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Power, like a desolating pestilence, Pollutes whate'er it touches; and obedience, Bane of all genius, virtue, freedom, truth, Makes slaves of men, and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/power-like-a-desolating-pestilence-pollutes-whate-er-it-touches-and/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Women never really command until they have given their promise to obey; and they are never in more danger of being made slaves than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-farquhar/women-never-really-command-until-they-have-given-their-promise-to/) [George Farquhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-farquhar/) > [In war," answered the weaver, "the strong make slaves of the weak, and in peace the rich make slaves of the poor. We must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-war-answered-the-weaver-the-strong-make-slaves-of-the-weak-and-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [So long as women are slaves, men will be knaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/so-long-as-women-are-slaves-men-will-be-knaves/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [“I rejoice that horses and steers have to be broken before they can be made the slaves of men, and that men themselves have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-rejoice-that-horses-and-steers-have-to-be-broken-before-they-can-be-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Women are the sexual slaves of men. They have been convinced that they are the "weaker" sex through a variety of manipulative devices in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/women-are-the-sexual-slaves-of-men-they-have-been-convinced-that-they/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I'm hooked my friend to the boy who makes slaves out of men, and oh believe me, flying high in a friendly sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-gaye/i-m-hooked-my-friend-to-the-boy-who-makes-slaves-out-of-men-and-oh/) [Marvin Gaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-gaye/) > [I rejoice that horses and steers have to be broken before they can be made the slaves of men, and that men themselves have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-rejoice-that-horses-and-steers-have-to-be-broken-before-they-can-be/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [If you have a slave around the house how can you expect to make a revolution outside it? The problem for women is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/if-you-have-a-slave-around-the-house-how-can-you-expect-to-make-a/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [“The man Of virtuous soul commands not, nor obeys: Power, like a desolating pestilence, Pollutes whate'er it touches, and obedience, Bane of all genius,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-man-of-virtuous-soul-commands-not-nor-obeys-power-like-a/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Declaration quotes > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It was often this way, life consisted of a series of false beginnings, bluff declarations of arrival to destinations not even glimpsed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/it-was-often-this-way-life-consisted-of-a-series-of-false-beginnings/) [Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [“It was to accomplish this lofty purpose basic to all liberty that God “established the Constitution of this land by the hands of wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-b-lee/it-was-to-accomplish-this-lofty-purpose-basic-to-all-liberty-that-god/) [Harold B. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-b-lee/) > [Scott noticed Will staring at it and grinned. "Like what you see?" Woolsey Scott asked. "I do enjoy these surprise midnight declarations. Go along,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/scott-noticed-will-staring-at-it-and-grinned-like-what-you-see/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I have read and re-read the Arusha Declaration and found nothing wrong with it except perhaps replacing a few commas here and there... it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/i-have-read-and-re-read-the-arusha-declaration-and-found-nothing/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [Making a definitive declaration of intent or meaning kills the photograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daido-moriyama/making-a-definitive-declaration-of-intent-or-meaning-kills-the/) [Daido Moriyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daido-moriyama/) > [“I've tired so hard to stay away from you, buy your soul is so powerful. It can't be ignored. It calls to me. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/i-ve-tired-so-hard-to-stay-away-from-you-buy-your-soul-is-so-powerful/) [H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/) > [The Declaration of Independence, the words that launched our nation -- 1,300 words. The Bible, the word of God -- 773,000 words. The Tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbes/the-declaration-of-independence-the-words-that-launched-our-nation-1/) [Steve Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbes/) > [Shaking off restrictive chains requires action. They cannot be wished away. A declaration will never break chains. It requires commitment, self-discipline, and work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/shaking-off-restrictive-chains-requires-action-they-cannot-be-wished/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [We stand today at the threshold of a great event both in the life of the United Nations and in the life of mankind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/we-stand-today-at-the-threshold-of-a-great-event-both-in-the-life-of/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [That government is best which governs the least, so taught the courageous founders of this nation. This simple declaration is diametrically opposed to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/that-government-is-best-which-governs-the-least-so-taught-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [ \[One\] principle that actuated the lives of the fathers who founded our Constitution was faith in God. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/one-principle-that-actuated-the-lives-of-the-fathers-who-founded-our/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [We were convinced that the people need and require this faith. We have therefore undertaken the fight against the atheistic movement, and that not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/we-were-convinced-that-the-people-need-and-require-this-faith-we-have/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) [Browse all 685 Declaration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing is more disgusting than the crowing about liberty by slaves, as most men are, and the flippant mistaking for freedom of some paper preamble like a Declaration of Independence, or the statute right to vote, by those who have never dared to think or to act.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nothing-is-more-disgusting-than-the-crowing-about-liberty-by-slaves/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Declaration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nothing-is-more-disgusting-than-the-crowing-about-liberty-by-slaves/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_declaration_nothing-is-more-disgusting-than-the-crow_37995.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_declaration_nothing-is-more-disgusting-than-the-crow_37995.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_declaration_nothing-is-more-disgusting-than-the-crow_37995.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing is more disgusting than the crowing about liberty by slaves, as most men are, and the flippant…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing is more disgusting than the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nothing-is-more-disgusting-than-the-crowing-about-liberty-by-slaves/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nothing-is-more-disgusting-than-the-crowing-about-liberty-by-slaves/#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 } } ] } ```