Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
True freedom is defined by restraint and choice not to act, not just by what one can do. Elites often treat ordinary people as experiments.
In plain terms
Freedom means having the power to say no, not just yes. Elites often use regular people as test subjects.
What can you take from it?
Freedom is found in the ability to refuse, not just to act.

Where it applies

  • policy making
  • corporate management
  • education

Putting it to work

  • practice saying no
  • question authority
  • respect consent

Questions to consider

  • What choices have I refused recently?
  • Do I treat others as means to an end?

Another view

Some societal goals require collective action that limits individual choice.

More from Eric Hoffer

  1. The real persuaders are our appetites, our fears and above all our vanity. The skillful propagandist stirs and coaches these internal persuaders.

    Permalink to quote #67
  2. Vehemence is the expression of a blind effort to support and uphold something that can never stand on its own... Whether it our own meaningless self we are uph…

    Permalink to quote #69
  3. A preoccupation with the future not only prevents us from seeing the present as it is but often prompts us to rearrange the past.

    Permalink to quote #66

Related quotes

  1. The object of this Essay is to assert one very simple principle, as entitled to govern absolutely the dealings of society with the individual in the way of com…

    John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill quote #14
  2. I am referring to respect for the unique human being and his or her liberties and inalienable rights and to the principle that all power derives from the peopl…

    Vaclav HavelVaclav Havel quote #99
  3. Money is a new form of slavery, and distinguishable from the old simply by the fact that it is impersonal - that there is no human relationship between master …

    Leo TolstoyLeo Tolstoy quote #120