Quote by Antoine De SaintExupery

What do we mean by setting a man free? You cannot free a man who dwells in a desert and is an unfeeling brute. There is no liberty except the liberty of some one making his way towards something. Such a man can be set free if you will teach him the meaning of thirst, and how to trace a path to a well. Only then will he embark upon a course of action that will not be without significance. You could not liberate a stone if there were no law of gravity -- for where will the stone go, once it is quarried?

What do we mean by setting a man free? You cannot free a man

Summary

This quote conveys that true freedom is not just about releasing individuals from physical constraints. It argues that for a person to truly be liberated, they must possess aspirations or goals they are striving toward. The analogy of a man in a desert illustrates that merely removing physical barriers does not guarantee freedom for someone who lacks purpose or direction. Similar to how thirst and knowledge of a well would guide the man to take action, understanding one's desires and the means to achieve them forms the basis for genuine freedom. Without purpose, even providing liberty to an object like a stone would be pointless.

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By Antoine De SaintExupery

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