--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thought in the world that is…" description: "\"The only thought in the world that is worth anything is free thought. To free thought we owe all past progress and all hope for the future. Since when ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/469/richard-savage-46243_brain_the-only-thought-in-the-world-that-is-wo_2637287.jpg" --- # The only thought in the world that is worth anything is… ![“The only thought in the world that is worth anything is free thought. To free thought we owe all past progress and all hope for the future. Since when has any one made it appear that shackled thought could get on better than that which is free? Brains are a great misfortune if one is never to use…” quote by Richard Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/469/richard-savage-46243_brain_the-only-thought-in-the-world-that-is-wo_2637287.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/469/richard-savage-46243_brain_the-only-thought-in-the-world-that-is-wo_2637287.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/469/richard-savage-46243_brain_the-only-thought-in-the-world-that-is-wo_2637287.jpg) > “The only thought in the world that is worth anything is free thought. To free thought we owe all past progress and all hope for the future. Since when has any one made it appear that shackled thought could get on better than that which is free? Brains are a great misfortune if one is never to use them.” [Richard Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-savage/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Free thought is essential for progress and hope; constrained thinking hinders advancement, and unused intellect is a misfortune. **In simple terms:** Free thought drives progress; unused minds are wasted. Key Takeaway Value intellectual freedom. Themes free thought progress intellect creativity misfortune Mood inspirational defensive Type philosophical social When to use this quote - education - innovation - personal development Key Concepts philosophy cognitive liberty Questions to Reflect On - How can we protect free thought in society? - What responsibilities accompany intellectual freedom? A Different Perspective Societal pressures can limit thought; not all ideas are beneficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Free thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-thought/) [Hope for the future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-for-the-future/) [Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortunes/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Bertrand Russell:   The expression “free thought” is often used as if it meant merely opposition to the prevailing orthodoxy. 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It is clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-is-clear-that-thought-is-not-free-if-the-profession-of-certain-2/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Freedom is not an idea; a philosophy written about freedom is not freedom. Either one is free or one is not. One is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/freedom-is-not-an-idea-a-philosophy-written-about-freedom-is-not/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Free thought, free speech and a free press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-royall/free-thought-free-speech-and-a-free-press/) [Anne Royall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-royall/) > [“In the illusion of delusion, between madness and lawlessness I exist. I dream about dreams, about illusions and disillusions and cold and madness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-c-lemus/in-the-illusion-of-delusion-between-madness-and-lawlessness-i-exist-i/) [E.C. Lemus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-c-lemus/) > [and i can't stand the idea of being alone. i can't bear the thought of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/and-i-can-t-stand-the-idea-of-being-alone-i-can-t-bear-the-thought-of/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Thought is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thought-is-free/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Where thought is free in its range, we need never fear to hazard what is good in itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/where-thought-is-free-in-its-range-we-need-never-fear-to-hazard-what/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Flout 'em, and scout 'em; and scout 'em, and flout 'em; / Thought is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/flout-em-and-scout-em-and-scout-em-and-flout-em-thought-is-free/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [What makes a free thinker is not his beliefs, but the way in which he holds them. If he holds them because his elders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/what-makes-a-free-thinker-is-not-his-beliefs-but-the-way-in-which-he/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If one wants to abide in the thought-free state, a struggle is inevitable. One must fight one's way through before regaining one's original primal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/if-one-wants-to-abide-in-the-thought-free-state-a-struggle-is/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [It is clear that thought is not free if the profession of certain opinions makes it impossible to earn a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-is-clear-that-thought-is-not-free-if-the-profession-of-certain/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“to a time when thought is free, when men are different from one another and do not live alone—to a time when truth exists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/to-a-time-when-thought-is-free-when-men-are-different-from-one/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) ## More by Richard Savage > [Those who murder fame Kill more than life destroyers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-savage/those-who-murder-fame-kill-more-than-life-destroyers/) [Richard Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-savage/) > [Anger is implanted in us as sort of sting, to make us gnash with our teeth against the devil, to make us vehement against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-savage/anger-is-implanted-in-us-as-sort-of-sting-to-make-us-gnash-with-our/) [Richard Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-savage/) > [By woe the soul to daring action steals; by woe in plaintless patience it excels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-savage/by-woe-the-soul-to-daring-action-steals-by-woe-in-plaintless-patience/) [Richard Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-savage/) > [The man of thought strikes deepest and strikes safest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-savage/the-man-of-thought-strikes-deepest-and-strikes-safest/) [Richard Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-savage/) > [He lives to build, not boast, a generous race; No tenth transmitter of a foolish face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-savage/he-lives-to-build-not-boast-a-generous-race-no-tenth-transmitter-of-a/) [Richard Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-savage/) > [When anger rushes unrestrained to action, like a hot steed, it stumbles on its way. 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Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' 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I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. 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If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only thought in the world that is worth anything is free thought. To free thought we owe all past progress and all hope for the future. Since when has any one made it appear that shackled thought could get on better than that which is free? 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