Dissident Natan Sharansky writes that there are two kinds of states -- "fear societies" and "free societies, " two kinds of consciousness. The consciousness derived of oppression is despairing, fatalistic, and fearful of inquiry. It is mistrustful of the self and forced to trust external authority. It is premised on a dearth of self-respect. It is cramped. In contrast, the consciousness of freedom is one of expansiveness, trust of the self, and hope. It is a consciousness of limitless inquiry. It builds up in a citizen a wealth of self-respect. Naomi Wolf
About This Quote

We all have our own kind of thoughts and ideas. But, when it comes to being in the public eye, most people are self-censoring. There are things they can’t say in public because people might not understand or they might think the person has gone insane. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. A person must have a certain amount of self-respect in order to speak their mind.

Source: Give Me Liberty: A Handbook For American Revolutionaries

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