--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Arab awakening has been, up to now, a…" description: "\"The Arab awakening has been, up to now, a lot about freedom from dictatorial regimes - Syria, Yemen, Libya, Tunisia, Bahrain and Egypt. But once you go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/thomas-friedman-1784_awakening_the-arab-awakening-has-been-up-to-now-a_2836836.png" --- # The Arab awakening has been, up to now, a lot about… ![“The Arab awakening has been, up to now, a lot about freedom from dictatorial regimes - Syria, Yemen, Libya, Tunisia, Bahrain and Egypt. But once you got freedom from, then you need freedom to. Freedom from is about destroying things. Freedom to is about constructing things, constructing the rule…” quote by Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/thomas-friedman-1784_awakening_the-arab-awakening-has-been-up-to-now-a_2836836.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/thomas-friedman-1784_awakening_the-arab-awakening-has-been-up-to-now-a_2836836.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/thomas-friedman-1784_awakening_the-arab-awakening-has-been-up-to-now-a_2836836.png) > “The Arab awakening has been, up to now, a lot about freedom from dictatorial regimes - Syria, Yemen, Libya, Tunisia, Bahrain and Egypt. But once you got freedom from, then you need freedom to. Freedom from is about destroying things. Freedom to is about constructing things, constructing the rule of law.” [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom involves both removing oppression and building constructive institutions. **In simple terms:** Freedom is both removal and creation. Key Takeaway Balance dismantling tyranny with establishing law. Themes freedom political change institution building Mood analytical optimistic Type political development When to use this quote - policy reform - nation building - legal drafting - education programs Key Concepts democracy civil society Questions to Reflect On - How ensure sustainable law after revolution? - What role does civil society play? A Different Perspective Transition periods can be unstable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awakening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awakening/) [Bahrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bahrain/) [Destroying things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroying-things/) [Egypt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egypt/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Libya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libya/) [Rule of law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-of-law/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) [Tunisia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tunisia/) ## Related quotes > [I think no country is going to be immune from the Arab awakening because the Arab awakening is driven by deep human longing for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-think-no-country-is-going-to-be-immune-from-the-arab-awakening/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Some socialist movements in Egypt, Tunisia and Bahrain, for instance, were genuine. I was making films about the so-called Arab Spring, and I'm well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-vltchek/some-socialist-movements-in-egypt-tunisia-and-bahrain-for-instance/) [Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-vltchek/) > [Al Qaeda's message that violence, terrorism and extremism are the only answer for Arabs seeking dignity and hope is being rejected each day in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/al-qaeda-s-message-that-violence-terrorism-and-extremism-are-the-only/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [There is a connection between energy, climate, food and political stability. That has played out in the Arab awakening and is not done playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/there-is-a-connection-between-energy-climate-food-and-political/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [I think the Arab awakening has changed everything and I think a lot will depend on what people there ask of us, may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-think-the-arab-awakening-has-changed-everything-and-i-think-a-lot/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [When people get frustrated, it's when they feel they are living in a context that deprives them of dignity, deprives them of justice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/when-people-get-frustrated-it-s-when-they-feel-they-are-living-in-a/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [The Arab awakening was like watching elephants fly: something you didn't expect, something you haven't seen before, "Wow, elephants fly."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/the-arab-awakening-was-like-watching-elephants-fly-something-you-didn/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [What is the most entrepreneurial country in the Middle East today? It's Lebanon. Which country has no oil or gas? Lebanon. The same was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/what-is-the-most-entrepreneurial-country-in-the-middle-east-today-it/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [I wish I could, instead of destroying things like that, I wish I could build, build, build.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-wish-i-could-instead-of-destroying-things-like-that-i-wish-i-could/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [You see, freedom has a way of destroying things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/you-see-freedom-has-a-way-of-destroying-things/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [You can grow without destroying the things that you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mcmahon/you-can-grow-without-destroying-the-things-that-you-love/) [Ed McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mcmahon/) > [It occurred to me then that I was the opposite of my father. Because I was very, very good at destroying things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/it-occurred-to-me-then-that-i-was-the-opposite-of-my-father-because-i/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [If people really stopped and realized how much art and creative people move the world versus politics and religion, I mean it’s not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/if-people-really-stopped-and-realized-how-much-art-and-creative/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [I wish I could have built without destroying things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-wish-i-could-have-built-without-destroying-things/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I can run fast when I want to run fast, and I've always been good at destroying things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-can-run-fast-when-i-want-to-run-fast-and-i-ve-always-been-good-at/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) ## More by Thomas Friedman > [I'm pretty much an open book. I am a fanatic golfer and golf nut. If I have three free hours any day, my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-m-pretty-much-an-open-book-i-am-a-fanatic-golfer-and-golf-nut-if-i/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [The financial crisis just made the hole deeper, which is why our stimulus needs to be both big and smart, both financially and educationally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/the-financial-crisis-just-made-the-hole-deeper-which-is-why-our/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Many jobs at Google require math, computing, and coding skills, so if your good grades truly reflect skills in those areas that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/many-jobs-at-google-require-math-computing-and-coding-skills-so-if/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Never before in the history of the planet have so many people, on their own, had the ability to find so much information about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/never-before-in-the-history-of-the-planet-have-so-many-people-on/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [When I was growing up, my parents told me, 'Finish your dinner. People in China and India are starving.' I tell my daughters, 'Finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/when-i-was-growing-up-my-parents-told-me-finish-your-dinner-people-in/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Hillary Clinton has decided to line up with John McCain in pushing to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline, 18.4 cents a gallon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/hillary-clinton-has-decided-to-line-up-with-john-mccain-in-pushing-to/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Two things are going on at the same time with the flattening of the world: The relentless quest for efficiency is squeezing some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/two-things-are-going-on-at-the-same-time-with-the-flattening-of-the/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Our president's latest energy initiative was to go to Saudi Arabia and beg King Abdullah to give us a little relief on gasoline prices.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/our-president-s-latest-energy-initiative-was-to-go-to-saudi-arabia/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [I don't think the Arab Spring had much to do with energy. I think it was just the opposite, in fact. I think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-don-t-think-the-arab-spring-had-much-to-do-with-energy-i-think-it/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Until we fully understand what turned two brothers who allegedly perpetrated the Boston Marathon bombings into murderers, it is hard to make any policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/until-we-fully-understand-what-turned-two-brothers-who-allegedly/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Geopolitics is all about leverage. We cannot make ourselves safer abroad unless we change our behavior at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/geopolitics-is-all-about-leverage-we-cannot-make-ourselves-safer/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Big breakthroughs happen when what is suddenly possible meets what is desperately needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/big-breakthroughs-happen-when-what-is-suddenly-possible-meets-what-is/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [That's right-the striking thing about greenhouse gases is the diversity of sources that emit them. A herd of cattle belching can be worse than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/that-s-right-the-striking-thing-about-greenhouse-gases-is-the/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [There is something more severe than the problem with Thomas Friedman, which can be generalized to represent someone causing action while being completely unaccountable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/there-is-something-more-severe-than-the-problem-with-thomas-friedman/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Pessimists are usually right and optimists are usually wrong but all the great changes have been accomplished by optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/pessimists-are-usually-right-and-optimists-are-usually-wrong-but-all/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) [Explore all 208 Thomas Friedman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) ## More Awakening quotes > [It is natural that our minds replay old stories, because that is our own mechanism for trying to work out unresolved problems. Yet rerunning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/it-is-natural-that-our-minds-replay-old-stories-because-that-is-our/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [Imitation is the first instinct of the awakening mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/imitation-is-the-first-instinct-of-the-awakening-mind/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“It is not so much about fighting against the ego; it is more about harmonizing with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-sara/it-is-not-so-much-about-fighting-against-the-ego-it-is-more-about/) [Grace Sara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-sara/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [“Low states are a like a poison to the psyche. Millions of people throughout the world take tranquillizers each day to combat depression, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belsebuub/low-states-are-a-like-a-poison-to-the-psyche-millions-of-people/) [Belsebuub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belsebuub/) > [The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-awakening-of-the-soul-to-its-bondage-and-its-effort-to-stand-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [My political awakening, if I can be as grand as to call it that, was all about what was happening around me. It wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/my-political-awakening-if-i-can-be-as-grand-as-to-call-it-that-was/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [How often have you sailed in my dreams. And now you come in my awakening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-often-have-you-sailed-in-my-dreams-and-now-you-come-in-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“CWC (Church Women Concerned) enabled us as women in that part of South Africa, to see ourselves as ordinary citizens who found themselves in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sindiwe-magona/cwc-church-women-concerned-enabled-us-as-women-in-that-part-of-south/) Sindiwe Magona > [I feel there is a great spiritual awakening on the planet right now. More than any previous time, people are drawn to meditation, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agapi-stassinopoulos/i-feel-there-is-a-great-spiritual-awakening-on-the-planet-right-now/) [Agapi Stassinopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agapi-stassinopoulos/) > [When I was 20 years old, I got cast in 'Spring Awakening' and got swept up in this experience where it was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/when-i-was-20-years-old-i-got-cast-in-spring-awakening-and-got-swept/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [Motivation is awakening own mind and Inspiration is arising spirit in others to find their own with their heart and soul in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/motivation-is-awakening-own-mind-and-inspiration-is-arising-spirit-in/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [Life is perhaps best regarded as a bad dream between two awakenings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/life-is-perhaps-best-regarded-as-a-bad-dream-between-two-awakenings/) [Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/) > [“The Illusion - The source of suffering can be linked back to a condition of the mind that creates the illusion of separation--the state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-blanchard/the-illusion-the-source-of-suffering-can-be-linked-back-to-a/) L.M.Blanchard [Browse all 1,440 Awakening quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awakening/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Arab awakening has been, up to now, a lot about freedom from dictatorial regimes - Syria, Yemen, Libya, Tunisia, Bahrain and Egypt. But once you got freedom from, then you need freedom to. Freedom from is about destroying things. 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