Freedom, morality, and the human dignity of the individual consists precisely in this; that he does good not because he is forced to do so, but because he freely conceives it, wants it, and loves it.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- True freedom and morality come from acting out of genuine desire rather than external coercion.
- In plain terms
- Doing good freely is better than doing it because you must.
- What can you take from it?
- Act from choice not compulsion.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can morality exist without freedom?
- How do you inspire genuine choice?
Another view
It ignores cases where rules are necessary for safety.
More from Mikhail Bakunin
Everything will pass, and the world will perish, but the Ninth Symphony will remain.
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