--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Intellectual freedom begins when one says…" description: "\"“Intellectual freedom begins when one says with Socrates that he knows that he knows nothing, and then goes on to add: Do you know what you don’t know ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/scott-m-buchanan-102632_beauty_intellectual-freedom-begins-when-one-say_3187490.jpg" --- # Intellectual freedom begins when one says with Socrates… ![“Intellectual freedom begins when one says with Socrates that he knows that he knows nothing, and then goes on to add: Do you know what you don’t know and therefore what you should know? If your answer is affirmative and humble, then you are your own teacher, you are making your own assignment, and…” quote by Scott M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/scott-m-buchanan-102632_beauty_intellectual-freedom-begins-when-one-say_3187490.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/scott-m-buchanan-102632_beauty_intellectual-freedom-begins-when-one-say_3187490.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/scott-m-buchanan-102632_beauty_intellectual-freedom-begins-when-one-say_3187490.jpg) > ““Intellectual freedom begins when one says with Socrates that he knows that he knows nothing, and then goes on to add: Do you know what you don’t know and therefore what you should know? If your answer is affirmative and humble, then you are your own teacher, you are making your own assignment, and you will be your own best critic. You will not need externally imposed courses, nor marks, nor diplomas, nor a nod from your boss . . . in business or in politics. (from the essay The Last Don Rag)”” [Scott M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-m-buchanan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intellectual freedom begins with acknowledging ignorance and questioning, fostering self‑directed learning without external validation. **In simple terms:** Know what you don’t know; ask. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and self‑teaching. Themes education freedom philosophy Mood inquisitive empowering Type Beauty:0 Education:1 Freedom:1 Goodness:0 Intellectual:1 Intellectual freedom:1 Socrates:0 Truth:0 Socrates Knows:0 Says Socrates:0 When to use this quote - academic study - personal development - business decision‑making - political analysis Key Concepts Socratic method self‑directed learning Questions to Reflect On - What unknowns limit your growth? - How can you cultivate self‑learning? A Different Perspective May ignore structural barriers to learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Intellectual freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual-freedom/) [Says Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-socrates-2173446/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socrates/) [Socrates Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socrates-knows-776038/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“One day, the old wise Socrates walks down the streets, when all of the sudden a man runs up to him "Socrates I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/one-day-the-old-wise-socrates-walks-down-the-streets-when-all-of-the/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Socrates splits himself into two, so that there are two Socrates: the Socrates who knows in advance how the discussion is going to end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-hadot/socrates-splits-himself-into-two-so-that-there-are-two-socrates-the/) [Pierre Hadot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-hadot/) > [He, O men, is the wisest, who, like Socrates, knows that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/he-o-men-is-the-wisest-who-like-socrates-knows-that-his-wisdom-is-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“But the truth is, O men of Athens, that God only is wise; and by his answer he intends to show that the wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/but-the-truth-is-o-men-of-athens-that-god-only-is-wise-and-by-his/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Religion grants its adherents malign, intoxicating and morally corrosive sensations. 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(...) Women have had less intellectual freedom than the sons of Athenian slaves. Women, then, have not had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/intellectual-freedom-depends-upon-material-things-women-have-had-less/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Well, the man who first translated the bible into English was burned at the stake, and they've been at it ever since. Must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/well-the-man-who-first-translated-the-bible-into-english-was-burned/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [“Therefore I would ask you to write all kinds of books, hesitating at no subject however trivial or however vast. By hook or by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/therefore-i-would-ask-you-to-write-all-kinds-of-books-hesitating-at-2/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) ## More by Scott M. 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