"Emancipation from the bondage of the soil is no freedom for the tree"
- Rabindranath Tagore
About this Quote
This quote by Rabindranath Tagore speaks with the concept that liberty is not always a good thing for all. In this quote, Tagore is comparing the emancipation of a tree from the chains of the soil to liberty. He is recommending that the tree is not necessarily better off when it is devoid of the soil. The soil provides the tree with the nutrients and stability it requires to grow and thrive. Without the soil, the tree is no longer bound to it, but it is also no longer able to access the resources it needs to make it through.
Tagore is suggesting that liberty is not constantly helpful, and that often it can be destructive. He is likewise recommending that flexibility is not always the exact same for everybody. What may be useful for one person might not be useful for another. This quote speaks to the concept that freedom is not constantly a good idea, and that in some cases it can be destructive. It is very important to think about the effects of flexibility prior to making a decision.
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