The Price And Practice Of Freedom

10 Aug 2023 · 1 min

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A short YouTube monologue (by Clegg) arguing that freedom inherently involves risk and the loss of security. The speaker cites Benjamin Franklin's idea that seeking security forfeits independence and defines freedom practically as having options—being able to choose yes or no, to act or not be compelled by circumstances or others.

Chapters

Let me ask you a question. Is your life a daring adventure or are you turning it into nothing at all? Benjamin Franklin said, if we seek security, we have no independence. I submit to you that freedom, by its very nature, burns the bridge of security. And so people who take risks always feel like it might not work. That's part of the price you pay for freedom. What is freedom? To me, freedom is a choice. Freedom means I have a choice. I can say yay or I can say nay. I can say yes or I can say no. I can go do the thing or not go do the thing. If I want to buy the thing, I can buy the thing or not buy the thing. And so for me, freedom is I have a choice. I am not compelled by my circumstance, by another person, by a situation, to do a thing.