An unbroken horse erects his mane, paws the ground and starts back impetuously at the sight of the bridle; while one which is properly trained suffers patiently even whip and spur: so savage man will not bend his neck to the yoke to which civilised man submits without a murmur, but prefers the most turbulent state of liberty to the most peaceful slavery. We cannot therefore, from the servility of nations already enslaved, judge of the natural disposition of mankind for or against slavery; we should go by the prodigious efforts of every free people to save itself from oppression. I know that the former are for ever holding forth in praise of the tranquillity they enjoy in their chains, and that they call a state of wretched servitude a state of peace: miserrimam servitutem pacem appellant. But when I observe the latter sacrificing pleasure, peace, wealth, power and life itself to the preservation of that one treasure, which is so disdained by those who have lost it; when I see free-born animals dash their brains out against the bars of their cage, from an innate impatience of captivity; when I behold numbers of naked savages, that despise European pleasures, braving hunger, fire, the sword and death, to preserve nothing but their independence, I feel that it is not for slaves to argue about liberty. . JeanJacques Rousseau
About This Quote

When you are tied up by someone to control your life, it is natural to want to get free. Not only that, but when you are unable to do so, when you are unable to stand up for yourself, when you can do nothing but lie down and accept your fate, it seems like the only way up is down. But if we look past the surface of things we can see that we can use our time in captivity to our advantage. When we work hard and strive to be the best we can be, we can use that same energy in effort and determination in trying to get free.

We do not have to concede and give in and let others control everything about us. Rather than resenting the chains put on us by others, we should strive for freedom from them.

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  1. Or, rather, let us be more simple and less vain.
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