--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Freedom is a state of mind, I said…" description: "\"Freedom is a state of mind, I said wondering where I'd heard it before, not a state of being. We are all slaves to gravity and morality and the vicissi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/901/walter-mosley-2810_absolute-freedom_freedom-is-a-state-of-mind-i-said-wonder_2159602.jpg" --- # Freedom is a state of mind, I said wondering where I'd… ![“Freedom is a state of mind, I said wondering where I'd heard it before, not a state of being. We are all slaves to gravity and morality and the vicissitudes of nature. Our genes govern us much more than we'd like to think. Our bodies can not know absolute freedom but our minds can, can at least try.” quote by Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/901/walter-mosley-2810_absolute-freedom_freedom-is-a-state-of-mind-i-said-wonder_2159602.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/901/walter-mosley-2810_absolute-freedom_freedom-is-a-state-of-mind-i-said-wonder_2159602.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/901/walter-mosley-2810_absolute-freedom_freedom-is-a-state-of-mind-i-said-wonder_2159602.jpg) > “Freedom is a state of mind, I said wondering where I'd heard it before, not a state of being. We are all slaves to gravity and morality and the vicissitudes of nature. Our genes govern us much more than we'd like to think. Our bodies can not know absolute freedom but our minds can, can at least try.” [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom is a mental state, not a physical condition; external constraints exist, but the mind can still experience liberty. **In simple terms:** Freedom lives in the mind despite external limits. Key Takeaway Cultivate mental independence. Themes freedom mindset determinism Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal reflection - self‑help - educational lecture Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - Can we truly think free under societal pressures? - How does recognizing limits empower mental freedom? A Different Perspective Physical freedom is limited; mental freedom can be nurtured. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-freedom/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Gravity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gravity/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [State of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-of-mind/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Vicissitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vicissitudes/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [The only freedom we have is in our minds , Its the only place we could think of anything without Other people judging .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-freedom-we-have-is-in-our-minds-its-the-only-place-we-could/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Democracy is the Freedom of Both Minds, Soul and Body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asherry-magalla/democracy-is-the-freedom-of-both-minds-soul-and-body/) [Asherry Magalla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asherry-magalla/) > [Amidst the vicissitudes of the earth's surface, species cannot be immortal, but must perish, one after another, like the individuals which compose them. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lyell/amidst-the-vicissitudes-of-the-earth-s-surface-species-cannot-be/) [Charles Lyell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lyell/) > [Joy is a spiritual element that gives vicissitudes unity and significance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/joy-is-a-spiritual-element-that-gives-vicissitudes-unity-and/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Happy is the man who can endure the highest and lowest fortune. He who has endured such vicissitudes with equanimity has deprived misfortune of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/happy-is-the-man-who-can-endure-the-highest-and-lowest-fortune-he-who/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Many things happen in life. There are joyous days and times of suffering. Sometimes unpleasant things occur. But that's what makes life so interesting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/many-things-happen-in-life-there-are-joyous-days-and-times-of/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [I can remember the times when I started including humor in novels that were suspenseful. I was told you can't do that because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/i-can-remember-the-times-when-i-started-including-humor-in-novels/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [Let it be our endeavour, let it be our task, to keep alight the torch of imperial patriotism, to hold fast the affection and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chamberlain/let-it-be-our-endeavour-let-it-be-our-task-to-keep-alight-the-torch/) [Joseph Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chamberlain/) > [He will see himself and life and the world as truly as our human limitations will permit; realizing the brevity and minuteness of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/he-will-see-himself-and-life-and-the-world-as-truly-as-our-human/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Nothing contributes to the entertainment of the reader more, than the change of times and the vicissitudes of fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nothing-contributes-to-the-entertainment-of-the-reader-more-than-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Which class is happiest, the rich, the middle class or the poor? A very successful executive of a large organization touches upon this vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/which-class-is-happiest-the-rich-the-middle-class-or-the-poor-a-very/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [And I thought, eight years ago, when I began carefully charting the progress of American Gods, nervously dipping my toes into the waters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/and-i-thought-eight-years-ago-when-i-began-carefully-charting-the/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [In emancipation from the fears that beset the slave of circumstance he will experience a profound joy, and through all the vicissitudes of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/in-emancipation-from-the-fears-that-beset-the-slave-of-circumstance/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Your qualifications, your CV, are not your life, though you will meet many people of my age and older who confuse the two. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-qualifications-your-cv-are-not-your-life-though-you-will-meet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Charity provides crumbs from the table; justice offers a place at the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/charity-provides-crumbs-from-the-table-justice-offers-a-place-at-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) ## More by Walter Mosley > [“It’s a continual revelation when you come to understand that the only thing you can expect in return for your own dignity is hatred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/it-s-a-continual-revelation-when-you-come-to-understand-that-the-only/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [I think that it's important to try to keep reality. I think that Gabriel Garcia Marquez speaks a lot about reality in his magical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/i-think-that-it-s-important-to-try-to-keep-reality-i-think-that/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [There's many things that I am. And all of those things come together at some point. If somebody wants to limit me, you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/there-s-many-things-that-i-am-and-all-of-those-things-come-together/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [I'm almost completely without family and it's a very odd feeling in life. 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"And that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/if-there-s-another-writer-like-ross-mcdonald-or-raymond-chandler-and/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [Losing my parents really set me adrift in more ways than one. It's not just losing them. It's losing the possibility of family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/losing-my-parents-really-set-me-adrift-in-more-ways-than-one-it-s-not/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [I've always loved science fiction. I think the smartest writers are science fiction writers dealing with major things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/i-ve-always-loved-science-fiction-i-think-the-smartest-writers-are/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [I believe that a writer has to tell what they think is the truth in a human experience. The truth of the human experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/i-believe-that-a-writer-has-to-tell-what-they-think-is-the-truth-in-a/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [I laugh, that there's a certain kind of cyclical nature to life and that I don't have to worry because whatever isn't there right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/i-laugh-that-there-s-a-certain-kind-of-cyclical-nature-to-life-and/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [When I turned 59, I looked at that as the first day of my 60th year, so I've been 60 for the last 365…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/when-i-turned-59-i-looked-at-that-as-the-first-day-of-my-60th-year-so/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [“The government isn't real," he replied. He might have been talking about Santa Claus or God. 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He be studyin’ you in his sleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/damn-easy-the-intrepid-sideman-said-trouble-got-your-name-tattooed-on/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) [Explore all 149 Walter Mosley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) ## More Absolute freedom quotes > [“My holy of holies are the human body, health, intelligence, talent, inspiration, love, and the most absolute freedom - freedom from force and falsity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/my-holy-of-holies-are-the-human-body-health-intelligence-talent/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [The Marvel experience was particularly wrenching because I was sort of given absolute freedom while we were shooting, and then in post, it turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-taylor/the-marvel-experience-was-particularly-wrenching-because-i-was-sort/) [Alan Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-taylor/) > [“An attempt to wrest from God the prerogatives of absolute freedom and infinity leads to the inversion of Pentecost and what is in effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-e-gunton/an-attempt-to-wrest-from-god-the-prerogatives-of-absolute-freedom-and/) Colin E. Gunton > [What is freedom? There is no such thing as absolute freedom!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/what-is-freedom-there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-freedom/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Art lives where absolute freedom is, because where it is not, there can be no creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/art-lives-where-absolute-freedom-is-because-where-it-is-not-there-can/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [“After those four years, he returned to the Midwest. He'd turned twenty-five, the Age of Unfolding, and it was time to write a novel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-harbach/after-those-four-years-he-returned-to-the-midwest-he-d-turned-twenty/) [Chad Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-harbach/) > [Having grown up in Bombay, from the day youre born, you have absolute freedom to choose who you want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freida-pinto/having-grown-up-in-bombay-from-the-day-youre-born-you-have-absolute/) [Freida Pinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freida-pinto/) > [Absolute freedom need not be lost as the price we must pay for the advent of civilization; men are born free, and need never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/absolute-freedom-need-not-be-lost-as-the-price-we-must-pay-for-the/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Absolute freedom need not be lost as the price we must pay for the advent of civilization. Man may achieve liberty and abundance, freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/absolute-freedom-need-not-be-lost-as-the-price-we-must-pay-for-the-2/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Once you have surrendered completely to God, you experience for the first time absolute freedom from the worries, problems and ills of this world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashok-kushwaha/once-you-have-surrendered-completely-to-god-you-experience-for-the/) [Ashok Kushwaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashok-kushwaha/) > [“It is ironical that, in the very field in which Science has claimed superiority to Theology, for example - in the abandoning of dogma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-dingle/it-is-ironical-that-in-the-very-field-in-which-science-has-claimed/) Herbert Dingle > [“It was easy enough to write a sentence, but if you were going to create a work of art, the way Melville had, each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-harbach/it-was-easy-enough-to-write-a-sentence-but-if-you-were-going-to/) [Chad Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-harbach/) > [... the absolute freedom of woman will be the dawn of the day of man's regeneration. In raising her he will elevate himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-celeste-claflin/the-absolute-freedom-of-woman-will-be-the-dawn-of-the-day-of-man-s/) [Tennessee Celeste Claflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-celeste-claflin/) > [I wish to speak a word for Nature, for absolute Freedom and Wildness, as contrasted with a Freedom and Culture merely civil, - to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-wish-to-speak-a-word-for-nature-for-absolute-freedom-and-wildness/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“The capacity to be alone is the capacity to love. It may look paradoxical to you, but it's not. It is an existential truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-capacity-to-be-alone-is-the-capacity-to-love-it-may-look/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) [Browse all 105 Absolute freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Freedom is a state of mind, I said wondering where I'd heard it before, not a state of being. We are all slaves to gravity and morality and the vicissitudes of nature. Our genes govern us much more than we'd like to think. 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