William Ellery Channing Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"Knowledge is essential to freedom."

by:	William Ellery Channing (1780-1842) American Unitarian preacher
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I love all your quotes . . . especially like the short and to the point one that can be used in our bulletin -- Theda Clark, La Habra Heights, CA
OK -- Graham, Auckland
That's a fact. It's also a fact that knowledge is essential to "control". Starve them for information...no facebook, use cash etc. -- J Carlton, Calgary
I'll take a relativistic approach to this one. For sure knowledge increases one's choices and direction in life and thinking. But who is to say that an "undiscovered" (by us that is) and "uneducated" Amazonian tribal member or tribe is not free. As for Channing he was a great early writer and thinker in the Unitarian Church. His essays are interesting. For further study watch the film "Educating Rita". She lost her free spirtied cockney language and character and became a slave to the straight jacketed higher education and knowledge of Cambridge and Oxford. Education and knowledge often requires a discipline. Thus a question "Does freedom equal discipline?" -- Waffler, Smith
Can a lie be known or just believed? Natural law dictates existence, no matter what passes as knowledge; by way of example, fiscal law will eventually correct man's applied knowledge of economics. Though slavery can be believed to be freedom (as propagated by the statist theocracy infesting this land, patrons of democracy, socialism, etc.) the knowledge of freedom will liberate the sole. There is a discipline to freedom. Knowledge is essential to freedom. -- Mike, Norwalk
Republicans and their capitailist allies are constantly at war againgst public education, so that Americans can be stupid to the point where they don't know right from wrong. I say FREE EDUCATION NOW!!!!! FUCK THE REPUBLICANS AND THEIR CAPITALIST ALLIES. -- Johann Hollar, Saint Paul, MN
True without equivocation. It is the lack of knowledge by the citizens that has brought the U. S. to its present state of war mongering and economic depression. -- dick, fort worth
I think knowledge is evolving informed conclusions. -- Janet C, Kingston
Knowledge is everything, it knows no party, no religion, no ethics, no morals, no thought. Knowledge is the elixir of life; it is after all the product of intellect. And, Johann, you are so right – if we don’t protect education and quadruple its funding a renaissance which we are wait desperately for will never happen. Dick, for once I agree with you fully - no I'm joking, I have agreed with you many times, though our politics diverge a little. -- RBESRQ
Robert ;-) I don't agree with dick much but, I sure do here. I agree with you more than dick but not so much here. Knowledge is more than the sum of gathered information or simply a product of intellect. True knowledge is the cognition as well as, material discrimination of the way things were, are and will be. Though Johann graphically illuminates it is the liberals / Democrats that are the premiere vitriol purveyors, the rant is partially correct. It doesn't matter how much money is thrown at education, it matters more what is taught. With (Republican's, Democrat's, progressives, capitalists, etc.) politically correct feel good and statist theology dogmas being more important than facts, reading, writing, math, science, history, etc. education will never reach a very significant level of knowledge. -- Mike, Norwalk
I, too, agree with dick. But Robert and Johann have not acknowledged that everyone in America can get a 'free' education -- however, Americans are dumber now than they have ever been. If you want knowledge, you can learn from many, many different sources -- go to the Library. Government funded schools are required to give a government-approved curriculum -- and it does not include pointing out the hypocrisies of our government. Public 'education' is little more than indoctrination and programming, ever promoting the idea of obedience to authority and dependence upon the state -- it is the glorification of institutionalism -- this is not 'knowledge' -- if half the stuff I have learned after school had been taught in school, my colleagues and I would have been more productive and responsible early on -- we would have learned that we haven't had a capitalist society in over a hundred years -- we have a socialist society IN DEBT to the most wealthy and elite MONOPOLISTS in the world. Knowledge is power -- and those with the power do not want the rest of us to know their tricks. Beware of a public education as well as 'broadcast' media -- it is nothing more than mind control, not knowledge. Learning is a process of discovery -- and that often means the discovery of lies and deception. Indeed the truth will set you free -- but then what will you do? ;-) -- E Archer, NYC
"Freedom is the absence of legislation." said Merrill Jenkins, Monetary Realist and author of "Money," The Greatest Hoax On Earth. His last 6 books free at: www.morpix.biz/x15 Ignore any religious remarks seen there. -- Dave Wilber, St. Louis MO
Knowledge should be free and plenty. The problem so often is. That there is someone always trying to push their agenda and squelch some facts. The internet and books are loaded with such material. Knowledge is letting it all out there and letting individuals decide from the facts their perceived truth. Our forefathers also, many of times, marched down the street to pray for wisdom of those facts from their creator. A lesson we all could learn from in seeking the truth is like searching for a diamond. Tedious and time spent but well worth the knowledge. To many take the road to serfdom for their road easier traveled, today. -- charley, Denver
How very true this quote is! If the American People had learned (over the last century) a little more about our true history and our Constitution along with the original intent of our forefathers, we may have been able to put a stop to the insidious encroachment of the progressives on our freedoms. Our schools are now nothing more than indoctrination camps. That is why so many Americans are home schooling their children. In some other countries it is against the law to home school. One couple from Germany fled to America to continue home schooling. Another country's government officials actually removed a child from it's home because the parents would not stop home schooling and I believe they are still separated more than nine months later. They are only allowed monitored visits. Education is key, but it must be historically accurate. Our Constitution must be taught in it's original context. Only then will America be able to remain free.--- I think Johann Hollar must be a troll. Whether he is or not I hope his comments will be censored if he continues along the same vein.--- To Waffler: Your question,"does freedom equal discipline?" It most certainly does! The only way a People can remain free is if they practice self discipline and personal responsibility. "Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people, it is wholly inadequate to the Government of any other." John Adams. I take that to mean we are responsible for our morals and conduct, and are best guided by a strong faith life, no matter what particular faith to which a person may subscribe. -- Carol, Georgia
I should clarify my statement about J.Holar. When I said censor his comment, I should have worded it differently. IMO, he should be given the option to clean it up or have it removed. That way it would be his choice as to whether he wants his voice heard in a more civil way. His post is rated "R" -- Carol, Georgia
Carol in education or a system of knowledge we often refer to it as a "discipline". That is there are strict rules, corollaries etc. a building block for that particular area of knowledge or expertise. While I understand, maybe, the need for such things it seems to me to fly in the face of the concept of "freedom" or free thinking. -- Waffler, Smith
Waffler, I would put it the other way round "Discipline equals freedom" and that is eastern wisdom - the wisdom in the west is till finding itself and hopefully it can before they self-destruct. We must be open to contrary opinion, to other beliefs, other ideologies, and other ways, only then can knowledge enter the gates of comprehension and Self. If you wish knowledge don't sing with the choir. RBE -- RBESRQ
The truth is obvious. -- Anthony, New York
RBE & Waffler, because our words and actions have consequences, the 'way' of liberation is limited -- there are some actions that lead us further into bondage. It is one thing to 'know', it is another to 'do.' That is the difference between knowledge and wisdom. As far as discipline goes, I would say it, too, is essential to liberty, but it is not in and of itself freedom. We are free to choose and to commit ourselves to an ideal -- and ever the path grows narrower. You can only simplify things so much -- discipline is not freedom nor is freedom discipline. Discipline is essential to freedom, but it is not the only thing. -- E Archer, NYC
This is one of the most profound statements/quotes that I have ever heard,,, how long do you thing it will take before Americans give-in to the dumb-down process that has gotten such a large number, that we have today, to embrace Socialism and the attitude that everything should be given to everyone? May God bless all true freedom thinking and capitalistic, patriotic Americans. Tom W (aka; hooyasailor) -- Tom W, Hoschton

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