Men are free when they are in a living homeland, not when they are straying and breaking away. Men are free when they are obeying some deep, inward voice of religious belief. Obeying from within. Men are free when they belong to a living, organic, believing community, active in fulfilling some unfulfilled, perhaps unrealized purpose. Not when they are escaping to some wild west. The most unfree souls go west, and shout of freedom. Men are freest when they are most unconscious of freedom. The shout is a rattling of chains, always was.

Summary

This quote suggests that true freedom for men is not found in aimlessly wandering or breaking away from their roots. Instead, it argues that freedom emerges when individuals obediently follow their deeply ingrained religious beliefs and internal voice. It further stresses the notion that being a part of a united, loyal community actively working towards a common purpose gives individuals the utmost sense of freedom. Moreover, the quote challenges the idea that seeking freedom through escape and rebellion, as epitomized by the idea of the wild west, often results in a loss of freedom. In fact, it suggests that the loudest claims of freedom may come from those who are truly unfree, symbolizing their entrapment in societal chains.

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