Famous Archibald MacLeish Quote

"Freedom is the right to choose: the right to create for oneself
the alternatives of choice. Without the possibility of choice and
the exercise of choice, a man is not a man but a member,
an instrument, a thing."

by:	Archibald MacLeish (1892-1982) Poet, playwright, Librarian of Congress, & Assistant Secretary of State under Franklin Roosevelt
Source:	4 December 1937
Rating:
Categories:	Civil Rights, Conscience, Freedom, Individual Rights, Liberty, Responsibility, Library
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maaari ba ninyong isalin sa mahusay at tamang paraaan ang mga "quotations"?.. sapagkat mas makatutulong ito ng malaki sa mga nangangailanagn..  -- nar, cavite
Excellent point ! Once health care is made mandatory, I no longer have a representative republic that may be defined as of, by, and for people, I am reduced to an owned instrument or thing of the omnipotent and foreign statist theocracy.  -- Mike, Norwalk      1
The General Welfare clause taken to a level of insanity never before seen here. Just wait until they are coming into your home to make sure you are compliant...for you own good!  -- J Carlton, Calgary      1
Good! The new law of the land health care bill improves choice. Now people can no longer scam the system by visiting the emergency room rather than a family doctor. Can no longer stiff the emergency room by not paying. Reducing the free loaders improves freedom and choice for all of us. We should not have the freedom to be free loaders. As someone said "freedom is not free". If your choice is to stiff your fellow man or men then I think it is their choice to take that option away from you. That is what the health care bill has and will accomplish.  -- Waffler, Smith
When you must choose between eating, being warm/dry and the health of your family, this is no choice, it is a form of slavery.  -- Anonymous, Reston, VA, US
What, me worry, not when our "wise" leaders in Washington will keep us safe from the womb to the tomb.  -- jim k, Austin
jim.k, when you say it in such poetic prose there is no better way of saying it. From the womb to the tomb. It has a certain finality to it. Maybe people will finally get the message when the problem is heard in that way.  -- Anon      1
Reston, I can't understand why you dislike Christianity so much when typically it is the Christian congregations that play a significant role in the kind of charity work you expect the government to provide. Americans are the most generous people in the world. We are all born dependent upon our mothers and family until one day we might be able to provide for ourselves -- the statists don't want us to ever grow up (i.e. take care of ourselves without government license). To require by law that all citizens purchase insurance (like commercial drivers are required to do in order to drive on the public highways), is the same as requiring us to donate to a charity -- except it is not really a donation, is it, it is mafia protection money -- you pay, or else. Kind of funny, though -- pay for your health insurance or else we are going to f@#$ you. Why can't I just say, "no, thanks, I do not want your free health care, I will pay for it myself when I say I need it, not you." It is hard to believe that such a statement of responsibility is now an unlawful act. The Waffler's and Reston's of this world forget that sooner or later, a 'right-winger' will return to the throne, and will use all these 'protections' to tighten the noose further. Stop giving them more rope!!  -- E Archer, NYC      1
Nice. Agree. In a truly competitive market we always have alternatives of choice and quality is always a concern.  -- Elisabeth, Astoria, NY      1
I estimate that I and my employers have invested over $250,000 into my heath insurance. I have received maybe $20,000 in claim reinbursement. Insurance is socialism regardless of who runs it. The government does it cheaper and the CEO's do not get millions of dollars in salary.  -- Waffler, Smith
Tho slavery was abolished, people have just been shackled...only this time it is not just the unfortunate few, but rather the entire country, and it will include the offspring of those long dead who were so happy to at be 'free at last'. Anonymous, you had a choice regarding your insurance. Had you preferred, you could have told your employers you would rather have the insurance premium amount added to your pay and not had insurance. That is a free market system. Your were free to buy or not...  -- aa, hb      1
aa, hb people with no insurance go to the emergency room and stiff the hospital and the feds pay these hospitals for their losses. Now people who do not have but can afford health insurance will have to pay up. The hospitals will get paid or more than likely the former free loaders will go to a faimly doctor and get health care paid for by their insurance company for which they have paid a premium. What is wrong with that approach?  -- Waffler, Smith
"From each according to their ability, to each according to their need." Sounds WONDERFUL! Historically, on any scale above 100 people or so, abilities decrease and needs rise until failure of system. So then you need guns to force the redistribution...  -- Tanstaafl, Portland, OR      1
-- Anonymous, Boise, Idaho
-- jim k, Austin

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