--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Freedom is not an empty sound; it is not…" description: "\"Freedom is not an empty sound; it is not an abstract idea; it is not a thing that nobody can feel. It means, - and it means nothing else, - the full an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/william-cobbett-8980_abstract_freedom-is-not-an-empty-sound-it-is-not_1156706.png" --- # Freedom is not an empty sound; it is not an abstract idea… ![“Freedom is not an empty sound; it is not an abstract idea; it is not a thing that nobody can feel. It means, - and it means nothing else, - the full and quiet enjoyment of your own property. If you have not this, if this be not well secured to you, you may call yourself what you will, but you are…” quote by William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/william-cobbett-8980_abstract_freedom-is-not-an-empty-sound-it-is-not_1156706.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/william-cobbett-8980_abstract_freedom-is-not-an-empty-sound-it-is-not_1156706.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/william-cobbett-8980_abstract_freedom-is-not-an-empty-sound-it-is-not_1156706.png) > “Freedom is not an empty sound; it is not an abstract idea; it is not a thing that nobody can feel. It means, - and it means nothing else, - the full and quiet enjoyment of your own property. If you have not this, if this be not well secured to you, you may call yourself what you will, but you are a slave.” [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) ## 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 the practical ability to enjoy one’s property without oppression; without it, one is effectively enslaved. **In simple terms:** Freedom means enjoying your property peacefully. Key Takeaway Protect property rights to stay free. Themes property freedom rights politics Mood critical thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - home ownership - business - personal autonomy - legal disputes Key Concepts liberalism individualism civil liberty Questions to Reflect On - What does true freedom look like in your life? - How do you safeguard your rights? A Different Perspective Security of property can be contested by law. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Empty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Feel Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-means-689381/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-sound-3294258/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Liberalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalism/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Quiet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quiet/) [Secured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secured/) [Secured Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secured-slave-3294257/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Thing Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-feel/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Happiness is the compass of human soul. If we feel nothing, it means we are lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abram-gitspof/happiness-is-the-compass-of-human-soul-if-we-feel-nothing-it-means-we/) [Abram Gitspof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abram-gitspof/) > [Whenever your feel alone, it means you are waiting for someone special who can get you out of this loneliness which is killing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-your-feel-alone-it-means-you-are-waiting-for-someone-special/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [...I would never choose a subject for what it means to me. I choose a subject and then what I feel about it, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-arbus/i-would-never-choose-a-subject-for-what-it-means-to-me-i-choose-a/) [Diane Arbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-arbus/) > [Our usual attitude is of 'I am this'. Separate consistently and perseveringly the 'I am' from 'this' or 'that', and try to feel what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/our-usual-attitude-is-of-i-am-this-separate-consistently-and/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [ If I find something and feel as though I can contribute to \[it\] in a way and feel I'm in it, whatever that means,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/if-i-find-something-and-feel-as-though-i-can-contribute-to-it-in-a/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [Falling in love with someone doesn’t mean you know any better how they feel. It only means you know how you feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/falling-in-love-with-someone-doesn-t-mean-you-know-any-better-how/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. But if unlimited or unbalanced power of disposing property, be put into the hands of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/property-must-be-secured-or-liberty-cannot-exist-but-if-unlimited-or/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Ending a television character that you've been, especially someone like Omar Little, it hurts. For me, it's a huge thing. You feel like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/ending-a-television-character-that-you-ve-been-especially-someone/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [“The thing is that it could never again feel natural to talk to her”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/the-thing-is-that-it-could-never-again-feel-natural-to-talk-to-her/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I was always really shy growing up, so to find that one thing that made me feel alive, it felt so good. I realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-villasenor/i-was-always-really-shy-growing-up-so-to-find-that-one-thing-that/) [Melissa Villasenor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-villasenor/) > [Family is the most important thing to me. When I am with them I feel at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-is-the-most-important-thing-to-me-when-i-am-with-them-i-feel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But the only thing I could feel were those firm arms holding me, clutching me securely. And all I could hear was that deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-quinn/but-the-only-thing-i-could-feel-were-those-firm-arms-holding-me/) [Katherine Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-quinn/) > [The important thing is to feel your music, really feel it and believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/the-important-thing-is-to-feel-your-music-really-feel-it-and-believe/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I like to wear my dad's shoes to auditions as sort of a lucky thing. I feel like I'm on solid ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-pullman/i-like-to-wear-my-dad-s-shoes-to-auditions-as-sort-of-a-lucky-thing-i/) [Bill Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-pullman/) > [Hollywood is a strange, strange thing. I feel like I've been invited to a very exclusive ball and I'm just trying to make nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-criss/hollywood-is-a-strange-strange-thing-i-feel-like-i-ve-been-invited-to/) [Darren Criss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-criss/) ## More by William Cobbett > [If the people of Sheffield could only receive a tenth part of what their knives sell for by retail in America, Sheffield might pave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/if-the-people-of-sheffield-could-only-receive-a-tenth-part-of-what/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [WESTBURY, a nasty odious rotten-borough, a really rotten place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/westbury-a-nasty-odious-rotten-borough-a-really-rotten-place/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [It is not the greatness of a man's means that makes him independent, so much as the smallness of his wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/it-is-not-the-greatness-of-a-man-s-means-that-makes-him-independent/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [There never yet was, and never will be, a nation permanently great, consisting, for the greater part, of wretched and miserable families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/there-never-yet-was-and-never-will-be-a-nation-permanently-great/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [Protestations of impartiality I shall make none. Theyare always useless and are besides perfect nonsense, when used bya news-monger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/protestations-of-impartiality-i-shall-make-none-theyare-always/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [Never esteem men on account of their riches or their station. Respect goodness, find it where you may.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/never-esteem-men-on-account-of-their-riches-or-their-station-respect/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [DEAL is a most villainous place. It is full of filthy-looking people.Great desolationof abomination has beengoing on here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/deal-is-a-most-villainous-place-it-is-full-of-filthy-looking-people/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [“He who can deliberately inflict torture upon an animal, in order to heighten the pleasure his palate is to receive in eating it, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/he-who-can-deliberately-inflict-torture-upon-an-animal-in-order-to/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [Patience is the most necessary quality for business, many a man would rather you heard his story than grant his request. It is by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/patience-is-the-most-necessary-quality-for-business-many-a-man-would/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [Having still in my recollection so many excellent men, to whose grandfathers, upon the same spots, my grandfather had yielded cheerful obedience and reverence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/having-still-in-my-recollection-so-many-excellent-men-to-whose/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [It is by attempting to reach the top in a single leap that so much misery is produced in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/it-is-by-attempting-to-reach-the-top-in-a-single-leap-that-so-much/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [Free yourself from the slavery of tea and coffee and other slop kettles!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/free-yourself-from-the-slavery-of-tea-and-coffee-and-other-slop/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [The ancient nobility and gentry of the kingdom... have been thrust out of all public employment... a race of merchants, and manufacturers and bankers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/the-ancient-nobility-and-gentry-of-the-kingdom-have-been-thrust-out/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [But what is to be the fate of the great wen of all? The monster, called, by the silly coxcombs of the press, "the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/but-what-is-to-be-the-fate-of-the-great-wen-of-all-the-monster-called/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [The very hirelings of the press, whose trade it is to buoy up the spirits of the people. have uttered falsehoods so long, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/the-very-hirelings-of-the-press-whose-trade-it-is-to-buoy-up-the/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) [Explore all 76 William Cobbett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) ## More Abstract quotes > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wisdom is the abstract of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-is-the-abstract-of-the-past-but-beauty-is-the-promise-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where human eyes have never seen, where human beings have never been, I build a world of abstract dreams, and I wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-ra/where-human-eyes-have-never-seen-where-human-beings-have-never-been-i/) [Sun Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-ra/) > [A little too abstract, a little too wise, It is time for us to kiss the earth again, It is time to let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/a-little-too-abstract-a-little-too-wise-it-is-time-for-us-to-kiss-the/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“Happy is very abstract, you can't touch it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-veal/happy-is-very-abstract-you-can-t-touch-it/) [Julius Veal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-veal/) > [Abstract Expressionism was invented by New York drunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/abstract-expressionism-was-invented-by-new-york-drunks/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [The more horrible this world (as today, for instance), the more abstract our art, whereas a happy world brings forth an art of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-more-horrible-this-world-as-today-for-instance-the-more-abstract/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [Describing comic sensibility is near impossible. It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/describing-comic-sensibility-is-near-impossible-it-s-sort-of-an/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The word of the Lord never comes to us as an opinion, no attempt is made to support it by argument, it comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-w-ivins/the-word-of-the-lord-never-comes-to-us-as-an-opinion-no-attempt-is/) [Anthony W. Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-w-ivins/) > [A mobile is an abstract sculpture made chiefly out of sheet metal, steel rods, wire and wood. Some or all of these elements move,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-calder/a-mobile-is-an-abstract-sculpture-made-chiefly-out-of-sheet-metal/) [Alexander Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-calder/) > [I'm this superphilosophical kind of person. Stuck in a prison of abstract ideas and overpowering emotions, I have this personality that makes it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuo-kirino/i-m-this-superphilosophical-kind-of-person-stuck-in-a-prison-of/) [Natsuo Kirino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuo-kirino/) > [Future lawyers should be more aware that law is not a system of abstract logic, but the web of arrangements, rooted in history but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/future-lawyers-should-be-more-aware-that-law-is-not-a-system-of/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [The trouble is that when you read criticisms about the other films that I've made you get the impression that they're all about themes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/the-trouble-is-that-when-you-read-criticisms-about-the-other-films/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [Painting is... a richer language than words... Painting operates through signs which are not abstract and incorporeal like words. The signs of painting are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dubuffet/painting-is-a-richer-language-than-words-painting-operates-through/) [Jean Dubuffet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dubuffet/) [Browse all 1,403 Abstract quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Freedom is not an empty sound; it is not an abstract idea; it is not a thing that nobody can feel. It means, - and it means nothing else, - the full and quiet enjoyment of your own property. If you have not this, if this be not well secured to you, you may call yourself what you will, but you are a slave.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Cobbett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/freedom-is-not-an-empty-sound-it-is-not-an-abstract-idea-it-is-not-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abstract" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/freedom-is-not-an-empty-sound-it-is-not-an-abstract-idea-it-is-not-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/william-cobbett-8980_abstract_freedom-is-not-an-empty-sound-it-is-not_1156706.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/william-cobbett-8980_abstract_freedom-is-not-an-empty-sound-it-is-not_1156706.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/william-cobbett-8980_abstract_freedom-is-not-an-empty-sound-it-is-not_1156706.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Freedom is not an empty sound; it is not an abstract idea; it is not a thing that nobody can feel. It means…” — William Cobbett", "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": "William Cobbett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Freedom is not an empty sound;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/freedom-is-not-an-empty-sound-it-is-not-an-abstract-idea-it-is-not-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/freedom-is-not-an-empty-sound-it-is-not-an-abstract-idea-it-is-not-a/#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 } } ] } ```