--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am a freeman and jolly as a beggar." description: "\"I am a freeman and jolly as a beggar.\" — Rutherford B. Hayes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_beggar_i-am-a-freeman-and-jolly-as-a-beggar-252_2520716.jpg" --- # I am a freeman and jolly as a beggar. ![“I am a freeman and jolly as a beggar.” quote by Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_beggar_i-am-a-freeman-and-jolly-as-a-beggar-252_2520716.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_beggar_i-am-a-freeman-and-jolly-as-a-beggar-252_2520716.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_beggar_i-am-a-freeman-and-jolly-as-a-beggar-252_2520716.jpg) > “I am a freeman and jolly as a beggar.” [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He claims personal freedom and joy, likening himself to a contented beggar, emphasizing humility and independence. **In simple terms:** He sees himself as free and happy, even in modest circumstances. Key Takeaway Find joy in freedom and humility. Themes freedom humility contentment Mood inspirational reflective Type historical personalistic When to use this quote - political leadership - personal development - community service - minimalist living Key Concepts Republicanism self‑reliance social class Questions to Reflect On - How does humility enhance personal freedom? - What does “jolly as a beggar” mean today? A Different Perspective Freedom may be limited by societal constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beggar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beggar/) [Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freeman/) [Freeman Jolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freeman-jolly-1247379/) [Jolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jolly/) [Jolly Beggar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jolly-beggar-1247378/) [Public service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-service/) ## Related quotes > [Literary tradition is full of lies about poverty-the jolly beggar, the poor but happy milkmaid, the wholesome diet of porridge, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/literary-tradition-is-full-of-lies-about-poverty-the-jolly-beggar-the/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [ I leave the governor's office next week, and with it public life\[which\] has been on the whole a pleasant one. But for ten years… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/i-leave-the-governor-s-office-next-week-and-with-it-public-life-which/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [I want to keep on progressing. I definitely think acting is a long process to be one of the greats like Morgan Freeman or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-gamble/i-want-to-keep-on-progressing-i-definitely-think-acting-is-a-long/) [Nathan Gamble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-gamble/) > [My partner after Fred Freeman was Jerry Belson. And Jerry Belson, after I was doing so well writing situation comedy, said, this is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-marshall/my-partner-after-fred-freeman-was-jerry-belson-and-jerry-belson-after/) [Garry Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-marshall/) > [I liked it because it was such a dangerous script and showed just what human beings are capable of. Here was a movie in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-liked-it-because-it-was-such-a-dangerous-script-and-showed-just/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [I rejoice in a belief that intellectual light will spring up in the dark corners of the earth; that freedom of enquiry will produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/i-rejoice-in-a-belief-that-intellectual-light-will-spring-up-in-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Martin Freeman is a genius, he really is. He gives you every color of the rainbow in every take and it's wonderful just to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-pulver/martin-freeman-is-a-genius-he-really-is-he-gives-you-every-color-of/) [Lara Pulver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-pulver/) > [ The tenets of \[the Christian life\] seem paradoxes to carnal men; as first, that a Christian is the only freeman, and other men are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/the-tenets-of-the-christian-life-seem-paradoxes-to-carnal-men-as/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [My mind is pretty made up that life for Cathy Freeman will be as an unmarried woman from now on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/my-mind-is-pretty-made-up-that-life-for-cathy-freeman-will-be-as-an/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [What freemanery actually is - it is not being a freeloader, it is not saying I do not want to be a contributing member…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-menard/what-freemanery-actually-is-it-is-not-being-a-freeloader-it-is-not/) [Robert Menard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-menard/) > [“A port arrival makes you feel so free ...To realize what it is to be a free man, with a world before him;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnaby-allen/a-port-arrival-makes-you-feel-so-free-to-realize-what-it-is-to-be-a/) [Barnaby Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnaby-allen/) > [Individuality is the aim of political liberty. By leaving to the citizen as much freedom of action and of being as comports with order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/individuality-is-the-aim-of-political-liberty-by-leaving-to-the/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [“Michael Freeman was thirty-five years old – a former Special Forces soldier turned policeman. He was a tall and slim black man, with grey-flecked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-conway/michael-freeman-was-thirty-five-years-old-a-former-special-forces/) [Simon Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-conway/) > [the twelve or fifteen millions in the British Empire, who, while they possess no electoral rights, are yet persuaded they are freemen, and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/the-twelve-or-fifteen-millions-in-the-british-empire-who-while-they/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [Morgan Freeman is so class. He's so cool. He's so scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/morgan-freeman-is-so-class-he-s-so-cool-he-s-so-scary/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) ## More by Rutherford B. Hayes > [Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office-seeking. Men of good character and impulses are betrayed by it into all sorts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/nothing-brings-out-the-lower-traits-of-human-nature-like-office/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [No person connected with me by blood or marriage will be appointed to office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/no-person-connected-with-me-by-blood-or-marriage-will-be-appointed-to/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The President of the United States should strive to be always mindful of the fact that he serves his party best who serves his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-president-of-the-united-states-should-strive-to-be-always-mindful/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The gloomy theology of the orthodox--the Calvinists--I do not, I cannot believe. Many of the notions--nay, most of the notions--which orthodox people have of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-gloomy-theology-of-the-orthodox-the-calvinists-i-do-not-i-cannot/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Every age has its temptations, its weaknesses, its dangers. Ours is in the line of the snobbish and the sordid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/every-age-has-its-temptations-its-weaknesses-its-dangers-ours-is-in/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Strikes and boycotting are akin to war, and can be justified only on grounds analogous to those which justify war, viz., intolerable injustice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/strikes-and-boycotting-are-akin-to-war-and-can-be-justified-only-on/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The melancholy thing in our public life is the insane desire to get higher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-melancholy-thing-in-our-public-life-is-the-insane-desire-to-get/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [As friends go it is less important to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/as-friends-go-it-is-less-important-to-live/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [ My father and mother in 1817 were forty-nine days on the road with their emigrant wagons \[from Vermont\] to Ohio. More than two days… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/my-father-and-mother-in-1817-were-forty-nine-days-on-the-road-with/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Unjust attacks on public men do them more good than unmerited praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/unjust-attacks-on-public-men-do-them-more-good-than-unmerited-praise/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Nobody ever left the presidency with less regret, less disappointment, fewer heart burnings, or any general content with the result of his term (in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/nobody-ever-left-the-presidency-with-less-regret-less-disappointment/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [If a liberal policy towards the late Rebels is adopted, the ultra Republicans are opposed to it; if the colored people are honored, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/if-a-liberal-policy-towards-the-late-rebels-is-adopted-the-ultra/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Disunion and civil war are at hand; and yet I fear disunion and war less than compromise. We can recover from them. The free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/disunion-and-civil-war-are-at-hand-and-yet-i-fear-disunion-and-war/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The best religion the world has ever known is the religion of the Bible. It builds up all that is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-best-religion-the-world-has-ever-known-is-the-religion-of-the/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [There is a great deal of strength in Garfield's life and struggles as a self-made man… From poverty and obscurity, by labor at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/there-is-a-great-deal-of-strength-in-garfield-s-life-and-struggles-as/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) [Explore all 129 Rutherford B. Hayes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) ## More Beggar quotes > [If some beggar steals a bridle he'll be hung by a man who's stolen a horse. There's no surer justice in the world than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peire-cardenal/if-some-beggar-steals-a-bridle-he-ll-be-hung-by-a-man-who-s-stolen-a/) [Peire Cardenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peire-cardenal/) > [Literary tradition is full of lies about poverty-the jolly beggar, the poor but happy milkmaid, the wholesome diet of porridge, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/literary-tradition-is-full-of-lies-about-poverty-the-jolly-beggar-the/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“Why remain polite but powerless, in love but a beggar?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/why-remain-polite-but-powerless-in-love-but-a-beggar/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [Don't be doubtful to your goals or else you will end up your life as a beggar, keep faith on yourself and you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athar-azeem/don-t-be-doubtful-to-your-goals-or-else-you-will-end-up-your-life-as/) [Athar Azeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athar-azeem/) > [Poets and beggars, musicians and prophets, warriors and scoundrels, all creatures of that unbridled reality, we have had to ask but little of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/poets-and-beggars-musicians-and-prophets-warriors-and-scoundrels-all/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [Beggars fear no rebellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/beggars-fear-no-rebellion/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [Hurrah for revolution and more cannon-shot! A beggar upon horseback lashes a beggar on foot. Hurrah for revolution and cannon come again! The beggars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/hurrah-for-revolution-and-more-cannon-shot-a-beggar-upon-horseback/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [You obviously don't know what an Old Man of the Sea great wealth is. It is not a fat purse and time to spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/you-obviously-don-t-know-what-an-old-man-of-the-sea-great-wealth-is/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Make of the Silence your to-do tasks, of the compassion your wealth and of the meditation your beggar's bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/make-of-the-silence-your-to-do-tasks-of-the-compassion-your-wealth/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/nobody-but-a-beggar-chooses-to-depend-chiefly-upon-the-benevolence-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [All religions have honored the beggar. For he proves that in a matter at the same time as prosaic and holy, banal and regenerative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-religions-have-honored-the-beggar-for-he-proves-that-in-a-matter/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [I'll not meddle with it. It makes a man a coward: a man cannot steal but it accuseth him; a man cannot swear but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-ll-not-meddle-with-it-it-makes-a-man-a-coward-a-man-cannot-steal/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A beggar through the world am I, From place to place I wander by. Fill up my pilgrim's scrip for me, For Christ's sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/a-beggar-through-the-world-am-i-from-place-to-place-i-wander-by-fill/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [The bashful beggar has an empty purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cranch-bond/the-bashful-beggar-has-an-empty-purse/) [William Cranch Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cranch-bond/) > [“A coin is examined, and only after careful deliberation, given to a beggar, whereas a child is flung out into the cosmic brutality without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-wessel-zapffe/a-coin-is-examined-and-only-after-careful-deliberation-given-to-a/) [Peter Wessel Zapffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-wessel-zapffe/) [Browse all 455 Beggar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beggar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am a freeman and jolly as a beggar.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rutherford B. Hayes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/i-am-a-freeman-and-jolly-as-a-beggar/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beggar" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/i-am-a-freeman-and-jolly-as-a-beggar/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_beggar_i-am-a-freeman-and-jolly-as-a-beggar-252_2520716.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_beggar_i-am-a-freeman-and-jolly-as-a-beggar-252_2520716.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_beggar_i-am-a-freeman-and-jolly-as-a-beggar-252_2520716.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am a freeman and jolly as a beggar.” — Rutherford B. Hayes", "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": "Rutherford B. Hayes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am a freeman and jolly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/i-am-a-freeman-and-jolly-as-a-beggar/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/i-am-a-freeman-and-jolly-as-a-beggar/#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 } } ] } ```