--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No man will ever be whole and dignified…" description: "\"“No man will ever be whole and dignified and free except in the knowledge that the men around him are whole and dignified and free, and that the world ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/wendell-berry-236_freedom_no-man-will-ever-be-whole-and-dignified_1689793.jpg" --- # No man will ever be whole and dignified and free except in… ![“No man will ever be whole and dignified and free except in the knowledge that the men around him are whole and dignified and free, and that the world itself is free of contempt and misuse.” quote by Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/wendell-berry-236_freedom_no-man-will-ever-be-whole-and-dignified_1689793.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/wendell-berry-236_freedom_no-man-will-ever-be-whole-and-dignified_1689793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/wendell-berry-236_freedom_no-man-will-ever-be-whole-and-dignified_1689793.jpg) > ““No man will ever be whole and dignified and free except in the knowledge that the men around him are whole and dignified and free, and that the world itself is free of contempt and misuse.”” [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True freedom and dignity arise when community members are whole and the world is free of contempt **In simple terms:** Freedom depends on communal wholeness and respect Key Takeaway Cultivate community health and respect for others Themes community freedom respect Mood hopeful reflective idealistic Type philosophical social When to use this quote - neighborhood projects - policy advocacy - education reform - conflict resolution Key Concepts social ethics human dignity collective well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How can societies foster collective wholeness? - What limits exist in achieving a contempt‑free world? A Different Perspective Idealistic view may overlook individual autonomy and systemic barriers ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dignified Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignified-free-1041647/) [Free Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-contempt-1041649/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Man Dignified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-dignified-1041650/) [Men Dignified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-dignified-1041648/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [World Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-free/) ## Related quotes > [Men are always much more dignified than most women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miuccia-prada/men-are-always-much-more-dignified-than-most-women/) [Miuccia Prada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miuccia-prada/) > [No man under forty can be dignified with the title of gourmet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/no-man-under-forty-can-be-dignified-with-the-title-of-gourmet/) [Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/) > [Only man can be absurd: for only man can be dignified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-man-can-be-absurd-for-only-man-can-be-dignified/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The superior man has a dignified ease without pride. The mean man has pride without a dignified ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-has-a-dignified-ease-without-pride-the-mean-man-has/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/for-a-time-i-rest-in-the-grace-of-the-world-and-am-free/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [On this International Day of Peace, let us dare to imagine a world free of conflict and violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/on-this-international-day-of-peace-let-us-dare-to-imagine-a-world/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [I go about in the world - free, busy, happy. Among people, I have no time to think of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/i-go-about-in-the-world-free-busy-happy-among-people-i-have-no-time/) [Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/) > [In a world of free, everyone can play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/in-a-world-of-free-everyone-can-play/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [If the whole world I once could see On free soil stand, with the people free Then to the moment might I say, Linger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-whole-world-i-once-could-see-on-free-soil-stand-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As human beings, nobody gets out of this world free. We all have to do some suffering before we leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/as-human-beings-nobody-gets-out-of-this-world-free-we-all-have-to-do/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [There are enormous opportunities to work for a world that is more free, peaceful and just.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-enormous-opportunities-to-work-for-a-world-that-is-more/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I dream for a world which is free of child labour, a world in which every child goes to school. A world in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/i-dream-for-a-world-which-is-free-of-child-labour-a-world-in-which/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The world can only be free when men are content in themselves and each draws from his own fountain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/the-world-can-only-be-free-when-men-are-content-in-themselves-and/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [i usedta live in the world really be in the world free & sweet talkin good mornin & thank-you & nice day uh huh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/i-usedta-live-in-the-world-really-be-in-the-world-free-sweet-talkin/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [The victory will be only entirely and finally achieved when the whole world is free of Jews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-streicher/the-victory-will-be-only-entirely-and-finally-achieved-when-the-whole/) [Julius Streicher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-streicher/) ## More by Wendell Berry > [During the last 17 years... I have been working at the restoration of a once exhausted hillside. Its scars are now healed over, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/during-the-last-17-years-i-have-been-working-at-the-restoration-of-a/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [To husband is to use with care, to keep, to save, to make last, to conserve. Old usage tells us that there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/to-husband-is-to-use-with-care-to-keep-to-save-to-make-last-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The two families, sundered in the ruin of a friendship, were united again first in new friendship and then in mariage. My grandfather made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-two-families-sundered-in-the-ruin-of-a-friendship-were-united/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The living can't quit living because the world has turned terrible and people they love and need are killed. They can't because they don't.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-living-can-t-quit-living-because-the-world-has-turned-terrible/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“I knew a man who, in the age of chain-saws, went right on cutting his wood with a handsaw and an axe. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-knew-a-man-who-in-the-age-of-chain-saws-went-right-on-cutting-his/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The concept of country, homeland, dwelling place becomes simplified as "the environment" -- that is, what surrounds us, we have already made a profound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-concept-of-country-homeland-dwelling-place-becomes-simplified-as/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [A community is the mental and spiritual condition of knowing that the place is shared, and that the people who share the place define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/a-community-is-the-mental-and-spiritual-condition-of-knowing-that-the/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“That we can prescribe the terms of our own success, that we can live outside or in ignorance of the Great Economy are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/that-we-can-prescribe-the-terms-of-our-own-success-that-we-can-live/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The mind that comes to rest is tended In ways that it cannot intend: Is borne, preserved, and comprehended By what it cannot comprehend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mind-that-comes-to-rest-is-tended-in-ways-that-it-cannot-intend/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The mercy of the world is time. Time does not stop for love, but it does not stop for death and grief, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mercy-of-the-world-is-time-time-does-not-stop-for-love-but-it/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-soil-is-the-great-connector-of-our-lives-the-source-and/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I dislike the thought that some animal has been made miserable to feed me. If I am going to eat meat, I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-dislike-the-thought-that-some-animal-has-been-made-miserable-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/laughter-is-immeasurable-be-joyful/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [These are people who are capable of devotion, public devotion, to justice. They meant what they said and every day that passes, they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/these-are-people-who-are-capable-of-devotion-public-devotion-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) [Explore all 847 Wendell Berry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. 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I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“No man will ever be whole and dignified and free except in the knowledge that the men around him are whole and dignified and free, and that the world itself is free of contempt and misuse.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wendell Berry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/no-man-will-ever-be-whole-and-dignified-and-free-except-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Freedom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/no-man-will-ever-be-whole-and-dignified-and-free-except-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/wendell-berry-236_freedom_no-man-will-ever-be-whole-and-dignified_1689793.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/wendell-berry-236_freedom_no-man-will-ever-be-whole-and-dignified_1689793.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/wendell-berry-236_freedom_no-man-will-ever-be-whole-and-dignified_1689793.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No man will ever be whole and dignified and free except in the knowledge that the men around him are whole…” — Wendell Berry", "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": "Wendell Berry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“No man will ever be whole...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/no-man-will-ever-be-whole-and-dignified-and-free-except-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/no-man-will-ever-be-whole-and-dignified-and-free-except-in-the/#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 } } ] } ```