--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even behind bars, even on Death Row, you…" description: "\"Even behind bars, even on Death Row, you can fail up, because life is about committing ourselves on a daily basis to the best in us. Freedom is a state..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/tavis-smiley-7372_attitude_even-behind-bars-even-on-death-row-you-c_2909892.jpg" --- # Even behind bars, even on Death Row, you can fail up… ![“Even behind bars, even on Death Row, you can fail up, because life is about committing ourselves on a daily basis to the best in us. Freedom is a state of mind. Freedom is an attitude. Freedom is a spirit. You may be behind bars, but you still have the capacity to be free.” quote by Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/tavis-smiley-7372_attitude_even-behind-bars-even-on-death-row-you-c_2909892.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/tavis-smiley-7372_attitude_even-behind-bars-even-on-death-row-you-c_2909892.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/tavis-smiley-7372_attitude_even-behind-bars-even-on-death-row-you-c_2909892.jpg) > “Even behind bars, even on Death Row, you can fail up, because life is about committing ourselves on a daily basis to the best in us. Freedom is a state of mind. Freedom is an attitude. Freedom is a spirit. You may be behind bars, but you still have the capacity to be free.” [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even in confinement, personal freedom comes from mindset and daily commitment to one's best self. **In simple terms:** Freedom is mental, not physical. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner freedom daily. Themes mindset resilience personal growth Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - prison rehabilitation - personal development workshops - daily meditation - goal setting Key Concepts psychology self-determination spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice freedom of mind in restrictive environments? - What daily habits nurture your inner spirit? A Different Perspective External constraints can limit opportunities to act on that mindset. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Death row](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-row/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-freedom/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [State of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-of-mind/) ## Related quotes > [Life is about committing ourselves on a daily basis to the best in us. Freedom is a state of mind. Freedom is an attitude.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/life-is-about-committing-ourselves-on-a-daily-basis-to-the-best-in-us/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I think that freedom is sometimes a state of mind. Sometimes, mind you, but not always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/i-think-that-freedom-is-sometimes-a-state-of-mind-sometimes-mind-you/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [Well, that's exactly the wrong attitude. That is not the attitude they had in World War II. You're attitude is that freedom means you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/well-that-s-exactly-the-wrong-attitude-that-is-not-the-attitude-they/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [My grandfather was a man, when he talked about freedom, his attitude was really interesting. His view was that you had obligations or you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/my-grandfather-was-a-man-when-he-talked-about-freedom-his-attitude/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [My grandfather was a man, when he talked about freedom, his attitude was really interesting. His view was that you had obligations or you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/my-grandfather-was-a-man-when-he-talked-about-freedom-his-attitude-2/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [The proletariat uses the State not in the interests of freedom but in order to hold down its adversaries, and as soon as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-engels/the-proletariat-uses-the-state-not-in-the-interests-of-freedom-but-in/) [Friedrich Engels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-engels/) > [“The state can easily destroy religion, but religion cannot do the same with the state. Therefore, defend and secure the freedom of your state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/the-state-can-easily-destroy-religion-but-religion-cannot-do-the-same/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [The state can't give you freedom, and the state can't take it away. You're born with it, like your eyes, like your ears. Freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utah-phillips/the-state-can-t-give-you-freedom-and-the-state-can-t-take-it-away-you/) [Utah Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utah-phillips/) > [While the State exists there can be no freedom; when there is freedom there will be no State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/while-the-state-exists-there-can-be-no-freedom-when-there-is-freedom/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [“Freedom can be a state of mind, a path built independently, and with freedom comes responsibility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheikha-hissa-hamdan-al-maktoum/freedom-can-be-a-state-of-mind-a-path-built-independently-and-with/) [Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheikha-hissa-hamdan-al-maktoum/) > [“i believe in the freedom of state where every people have to right develop their culture and maintain the democracy while two things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avinash-advani/i-believe-in-the-freedom-of-state-where-every-people-have-to-right/) [Avinash Advani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avinash-advani/) > [“PROPER ROLE OF THE STATE I believe that the proper role of the state is negative, not positive; defensive, not aggressive. It is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-edward-griffin/proper-role-of-the-state-i-believe-that-the-proper-role-of-the-state/) [G. Edward Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-edward-griffin/) > [When there is state there can be no freedom, but when there is freedom there will be no state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/when-there-is-state-there-can-be-no-freedom-but-when-there-is-freedom/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [We've become a collectivist economy in Illinois. It's crushing us. And no problem is going to get fixed unless we bring more economic freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-rauner/we-ve-become-a-collectivist-economy-in-illinois-it-s-crushing-us-and/) [Bruce Rauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-rauner/) > [The essential characteristic of Western civilization that distinguishes it from the arrested and petrified civilizations of the East was and is its concern for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-essential-characteristic-of-western-civilization-that/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) ## More by Tavis Smiley > [I think the issue of women's choice is essential for a woman being able to have their lives - if they cannot control their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-think-the-issue-of-women-s-choice-is-essential-for-a-woman-being/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Leonard Pitts, Jr. is the most insightful and inspiring columnist of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/leonard-pitts-jr-is-the-most-insightful-and-inspiring-columnist-of/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I believe there is nothing we endure in life that you can't recover from. Failure is not fatal. Everyone has the capacity to fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-believe-there-is-nothing-we-endure-in-life-that-you-can-t-recover/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Why don't we scale up those things that do work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/why-don-t-we-scale-up-those-things-that-do-work/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I think when I stop fighting, I die in a sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-think-when-i-stop-fighting-i-die-in-a-sense/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [The storm came. Lives were washed away. Ancient pains resurfaced. Now it is time for a sea of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/the-storm-came-lives-were-washed-away-ancient-pains-resurfaced-now-it/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [ \[John Carlos\] has spent much of his life since that time as a dedicated human rights advocate and public speaker, and he is out… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/john-carlos-has-spent-much-of-his-life-since-that-time-as-a-dedicated/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I love the fight. I don't - it's not a negative, it's a positive, and I love the challenge. There's that little part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-love-the-fight-i-don-t-it-s-not-a-negative-it-s-a-positive-and-i/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [This administration and these folk who run Washington are no more interested in our welfare and our well being than the man on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/this-administration-and-these-folk-who-run-washington-are-no-more/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I'm talking about France and Germany and Italy and Spain - new friend Germany - and I love that story, how they lead the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-m-talking-about-france-and-germany-and-italy-and-spain-new-friend/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Sometimes even your friends don't understand your calling, your purpose, your vocation. But you have to stand in your truth anyway, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/sometimes-even-your-friends-don-t-understand-your-calling-your/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Fear, fear, breeds hopelessness. When you're afraid, you don't know what to believe in, you don't know what to hold on to. You're struggling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/fear-fear-breeds-hopelessness-when-you-re-afraid-you-don-t-know-what/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Capitalism is like a child: if you want the child to grow up free and productive, somebody's got to look over the shoulder of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/capitalism-is-like-a-child-if-you-want-the-child-to-grow-up-free-and/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [The data is going to indicate sadly that when the Obama administration is over, black people will have lost ground in every single leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/the-data-is-going-to-indicate-sadly-that-when-the-obama/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [John Carlos provided the world with one of the most iconic images of the 1960s with his Black Power salute after a medal-winning performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/john-carlos-provided-the-world-with-one-of-the-most-iconic-images-of/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) [Explore all 91 Tavis Smiley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even behind bars, even on Death Row, you can fail up, because life is about committing ourselves on a daily basis to the best in us. Freedom is a state of mind. Freedom is an attitude. Freedom is a spirit. You may be behind bars, but you still have the capacity to be free.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tavis Smiley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/even-behind-bars-even-on-death-row-you-can-fail-up-because-life-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/even-behind-bars-even-on-death-row-you-can-fail-up-because-life-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/tavis-smiley-7372_attitude_even-behind-bars-even-on-death-row-you-c_2909892.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/tavis-smiley-7372_attitude_even-behind-bars-even-on-death-row-you-c_2909892.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/tavis-smiley-7372_attitude_even-behind-bars-even-on-death-row-you-c_2909892.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Even behind bars, even on Death Row, you can fail up, because life is about committing ourselves on a daily…” — Tavis Smiley", "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": "Tavis Smiley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Even behind bars, even on Death...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/even-behind-bars-even-on-death-row-you-can-fail-up-because-life-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/even-behind-bars-even-on-death-row-you-can-fail-up-because-life-is/#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 } } ] } ```