--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But as long as he kept on caring, nothing…" description: "\"“But as long as he kept on caring, nothing could touch the freedom of his inner thoughts.”\" — Sylvia Engdahl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/sylvia-engdahl-31070_compassion_but-as-long-as-he-kept-on-caring-nothing_23381.jpg" --- # But as long as he kept on caring, nothing could touch the… ![“But as long as he kept on caring, nothing could touch the freedom of his inner thoughts.” quote by Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/sylvia-engdahl-31070_compassion_but-as-long-as-he-kept-on-caring-nothing_23381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/sylvia-engdahl-31070_compassion_but-as-long-as-he-kept-on-caring-nothing_23381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/sylvia-engdahl-31070_compassion_but-as-long-as-he-kept-on-caring-nothing_23381.jpg) > ““But as long as he kept on caring, nothing could touch the freedom of his inner thoughts.”” [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) ## 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 emphasizes that personal freedom is preserved as long as one maintains genuine care and concern, shielding inner thoughts from external influence. **In simple terms:** Caring protects inner freedom. Key Takeaway Inner liberty depends on caring. Themes autonomy inner peace resilience self‑care mental freedom Mood reflective empowering Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - facing oppressive environments - dealing with criticism - navigating social pressure Key Concepts mindfulness psychological immunity personal agency Practical Applications - mental‑health counseling - leadership coaching Questions to Reflect On - How does caring act as a shield against external control? - What practices help sustain caring for one's thoughts? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ## Related quotes > [“Freedom of inner thought bears sanctuary mind. 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Never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakeysha-marie-green/attaining-inner-peace-isn-t-about-letting-someone-else-read-your/) Lakeysha-Marie Green > [“We know when our actions fail to match our inner thoughts and feelings, but we often forget that this knowledge is not available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/we-know-when-our-actions-fail-to-match-our-inner-thoughts-and/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [“What shows up in our lives is a direct reflection of our inner thoughts and emotions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grout/what-shows-up-in-our-lives-is-a-direct-reflection-of-our-inner/) [Pam Grout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grout/) > [Nudity is just about your body. It's easier to shut yourself off outside than reveal your inner thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-durance/nudity-is-just-about-your-body-it-s-easier-to-shut-yourself-off/) [Erica Durance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-durance/) ## More by Sylvia Engdahl > [“If nobody believed anything except what they understood, how limited we'd be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/if-nobody-believed-anything-except-what-they-understood-how-limited/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) > [“There are different kinds of truth. And if our kind is more mature than theirs, it's so only because we know that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/there-are-different-kinds-of-truth-and-if-our-kind-is-more-mature/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) > [“It's like parents choosing to raise their own standard of living rather than to provide for the future of their kids. You wouldn't consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/it-s-like-parents-choosing-to-raise-their-own-standard-of-living/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) > [People who love each other can no more keep from communicating than from breathing. —Elana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/people-who-love-each-other-can-no-more-keep-from-communicating-than/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) > [“People who love each other can no more keep from communicating than from breathing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/people-who-love-each-other-can-no-more-keep-from-communicating-than-2/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) > [Must a man then live as his fellows live, and never reach beyond?" —Georyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/must-a-man-then-live-as-his-fellows-live-and-never-reach-beyond-georyn/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) > [“But a light now waxed within him at the knowledge that such wonders as he had been shown could exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/but-a-light-now-waxed-within-him-at-the-knowledge-that-such-wonders/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) > [What is it, I wonder, that makes two people suddenly become important to each other? So important that everything else around them just fades…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/what-is-it-i-wonder-that-makes-two-people-suddenly-become-important/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) > [“The human mind is incredible. It can do nothing without belief, yet practically anything with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/the-human-mind-is-incredible-it-can-do-nothing-without-belief-yet/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) > [“Must a man then live as his fellows live, and never reach beyond?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/must-a-man-then-live-as-his-fellows-live-and-never-reach-beyond/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) > [“It is the only happiness now possible to me, to know that all is well with you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/it-is-the-only-happiness-now-possible-to-me-to-know-that-all-is-well/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) > [The human mind is incredible. It can do nothing without belief, yet practically anything with it. —Elana's father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/the-human-mind-is-incredible-it-can-do-nothing-without-belief-yet-2/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) > [“Wherever he went he would be a stranger, for there was no home in the world for such as he.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/wherever-he-went-he-would-be-a-stranger-for-there-was-no-home-in-the/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) > [“The questions you framed are unanswerable, and to be terrified by that is a sign not of weakness but of strength. A weak person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/the-questions-you-framed-are-unanswerable-and-to-be-terrified-by-that/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) > [“It's not enough just to learn what there ISN'T; we need to know what there IS.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-engdahl/it-s-not-enough-just-to-learn-what-there-isn-t-we-need-to-know-what/) [Sylvia Engdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) [Explore all 16 Sylvia Engdahl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-engdahl/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. 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