Political freedom is neither easy nor automatic, neither pleasant nor secure. It is the responsibility of the individual for the decisions of society as if they were his own decisions--as in moral truth and accountability they are. -- The Future of Industrial Man (1942)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Political freedom requires personal responsibility for societal decisions, treating them as one's own moral choices.
- In plain terms
- Freedom means individuals must own the moral weight of collective decisions.
- What can you take from it?
- Take personal responsibility for the political choices that affect society.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does personal moral accountability shape democratic societies?
- What barriers prevent people from taking such responsibility?
Another view
Not everyone has equal capacity or information to make fully informed decisions.
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