--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Freedom is in danger of degenerating into…" description: "\"Freedom is in danger of degenerating into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of responsibleness. That is why I recommend that the Statue of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/viktor-e-frankl-668_christian-inspiratio_freedom-is-in-danger-of-degenerating-int_1972355.jpg" --- # Freedom is in danger of degenerating into mere… ![“Freedom is in danger of degenerating into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of responsibleness. That is why I recommend that the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast be supplemented by a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast.” quote by Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/viktor-e-frankl-668_christian-inspiratio_freedom-is-in-danger-of-degenerating-int_1972355.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/viktor-e-frankl-668_christian-inspiratio_freedom-is-in-danger-of-degenerating-int_1972355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/viktor-e-frankl-668_christian-inspiratio_freedom-is-in-danger-of-degenerating-int_1972355.jpg) > “Freedom is in danger of degenerating into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of responsibleness. That is why I recommend that the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast be supplemented by a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast.” [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom can become random without responsibility; pairing liberty with duty balances society. **In simple terms:** Freedom needs responsibility to stay meaningful. Key Takeaway Balance liberty with responsibility. Themes freedom responsibility ethics Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - political discourse - education - community leadership - lawmaking Key Concepts existentialism social contract Questions to Reflect On - How can societies encourage responsibility without stifling freedom? - What personal duties reinforce your sense of freedom? A Different Perspective Responsibility may be seen as limiting personal freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-inspirational/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [East coast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/east-coast/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Statue of liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statue-of-liberty/) [West coast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-coast/) ## Related quotes > [We have the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast. But in the name of freedom, people have done a lot of damage. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-have-the-statue-of-liberty-on-the-east-coast-but-in-the-name-of/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [I recommend that the Statue of Liberty be supplemented by a Statue of Responsibility on the west coast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-recommend-that-the-statue-of-liberty-be-supplemented-by-a-statue-of/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“Freedom, however, is not the last word. Freedom is only part of the story and half of the truth. Freedom is but the negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-e-frankl/freedom-however-is-not-the-last-word-freedom-is-only-part-of-the/) Victor E. Frankl > [“I recommend that the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast be supplemented by a Statue of Responsiblity on the West Coast.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-recommend-that-the-statue-of-liberty-on-the-east-coast-be/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“Freedom is but the negative aspect of the whole phenomenon whose positive aspect is responsibleness. In fact, freedom is in danger of degenerating into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/freedom-is-but-the-negative-aspect-of-the-whole-phenomenon-whose-2/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [The last woman I was in was the Statue of Liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-last-woman-i-was-in-was-the-statue-of-liberty/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“In some odd gush of patriotism, my mother had once vomited on the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty, and a bust of Benjamin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-stahl/in-some-odd-gush-of-patriotism-my-mother-had-once-vomited-on-the/) [Jerry Stahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-stahl/) > [The view... from my apartment... was the World Trade Center... and now it's gone, they attacked it. This symbol of American ingenuity, and strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/the-view-from-my-apartment-was-the-world-trade-center-and-now-it-s/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [As a devastating series of attacks rock America's oldest ally, the nation that stood by us after 9/11 that gifted us the Statue of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-king/as-a-devastating-series-of-attacks-rock-america-s-oldest-ally-the/) [Peter King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-king/) > [People look at the statue of liberty and they see a proud symbol. Donald Trump looks at the statue of liberty and sees a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/people-look-at-the-statue-of-liberty-and-they-see-a-proud-symbol/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I run from Horatio Street down just past Battery Park City and back. It's amazing to run and see the Statue of Liberty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-cohen/i-run-from-horatio-street-down-just-past-battery-park-city-and-back/) [Andy Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-cohen/) > [The Statue of Liberty is meant to be shorthand for a country so unlike its parts that a trip from California to Indiana should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/the-statue-of-liberty-is-meant-to-be-shorthand-for-a-country-so/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [The Statue of Liberty's gender changed nothing. It was the same here as anywhere: men and their wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/the-statue-of-liberty-s-gender-changed-nothing-it-was-the-same-here/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [Many of America's and New York's sons and daughters are around the world fighting for the freedoms that the Statue of Liberty stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/many-of-america-s-and-new-york-s-sons-and-daughters-are-around-the/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [If you go by that little inscription on the Statue of Liberty, the purest idea of America is complete cultural chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everlast/if-you-go-by-that-little-inscription-on-the-statue-of-liberty-the/) [Everlast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everlast/) ## More by Viktor E. Frankl > [For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/for-the-meaning-of-life-differs-from-man-to-man-from-day-to-day-and/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“In the past, nothing is irretrievably lost, but rather, on the contrary, everything is irrevocably stored and treasured. To be sure, people tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/in-the-past-nothing-is-irretrievably-lost-but-rather-on-the-contrary/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [When a man finds that it is his destiny to suffer... his unique opportunity lies in the way he bears his burden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/when-a-man-finds-that-it-is-his-destiny-to-suffer-his-unique/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“A positive attitude enables a person to endure suffering and disappointment as well as enhance enjoyment and satisfaction. A negative attitude intensifies pain and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/a-positive-attitude-enables-a-person-to-endure-suffering-and/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“our sacrifice did have a meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/our-sacrifice-did-have-a-meaning/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Man's last freedom is his freedom to choose how he will react in any given situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-s-last-freedom-is-his-freedom-to-choose-how-he-will-react-in-any/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [The more one forgets himself - by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love - the more human he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/the-more-one-forgets-himself-by-giving-himself-to-a-cause-to-serve-or/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“There is nothing in the world, I venture to say, that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/there-is-nothing-in-the-world-i-venture-to-say-that-would-so/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Man's search for meaning is the chief motivation of his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-s-search-for-meaning-is-the-chief-motivation-of-his-life/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [In a last violent protest against the hopelessness of imminent death, I sensed my spirit piercing through the enveloping gloom. I felt it transcend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/in-a-last-violent-protest-against-the-hopelessness-of-imminent-death/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“But happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/but-happiness-cannot-be-pursued-it-must-ensue/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another one's belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another one's right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-one-s-belief-but-it/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“I think it was Lessing who once said, 'There are things which must cause you to lose your reason or you have none to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-think-it-was-lessing-who-once-said-there-are-things-which-must/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“I believe that my handicap will only enhance my ability to help others. I know that without the suffering, the growth that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-believe-that-my-handicap-will-only-enhance-my-ability-to-help/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“He main retain his human dignity even in a concentration camp. Dostoevsky said once, 'There is only one thing that I dread: not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/he-main-retain-his-human-dignity-even-in-a-concentration-camp/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) [Explore all 381 Viktor E. Frankl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## More Christian inspirational quotes > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [God is never late, we're just impatient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/god-is-never-late-we-re-just-impatient/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The bumps are what you climb on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-bumps-are-what-you-climb-on/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/no-half-heartedness-and-no-worldly-fear-must-turn-us-aside-from/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [There are many who say they want to be victorious Christians, but few are willing to endure the discipline necessary to make one a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/there-are-many-who-say-they-want-to-be-victorious-christians-but-few/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Let us rise above the things that pass away. Up above, the air is so pure. Jesus can hide Himself but we will find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-of-lisieux/let-us-rise-above-the-things-that-pass-away-up-above-the-air-is-so/) [Therese of Lisieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-of-lisieux/) > [I am part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed... My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is in God's hands...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-madrid/i-am-part-of-the-fellowship-of-the-unashamed-my-past-is-redeemed-my/) [Patrick Madrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-madrid/) > [Be much alone with God, and take time to get thoroughly acquainted. Converse over everything with Him. Unburden yourself wholly -every thought, feeling, wish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatius-bonar/be-much-alone-with-god-and-take-time-to-get-thoroughly-acquainted/) [Horatius Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatius-bonar/) > [Persecution, in short, is like the goldsmith's stamp on real silver and gold - it is one of the marks of a converted man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/persecution-in-short-is-like-the-goldsmith-s-stamp-on-real-silver-and/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [It is part of God's plan for us that Christ shall come to us in everyone; it is in their particular role that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryll-houselander/it-is-part-of-god-s-plan-for-us-that-christ-shall-come-to-us-in/) [Caryll Houselander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryll-houselander/) > [To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/to-get-nations-back-on-their-feet-we-must-first-get-down-on-our-knees/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The word "hope" I take for faith; and indeed hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-word-hope-i-take-for-faith-and-indeed-hope-is-nothing-else-but/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The secret of the missionary is...I am His, and He is carrying out His work through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-secret-of-the-missionary-is-i-am-his-and-he-is-carrying-out-his/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) [Browse all 1,492 Christian inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Freedom is in danger of degenerating into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of responsibleness. 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