"Freedom is not an ideal, it is not even a protection, if it means nothing more than the freedom to stagnate"
- Adlai E. Stevenson
About this Quote
Adlai E. Stevenson's quote speaks with the concept that freedom is not simply a concept or a perfect, but something that should be actively pursued and preserved. He recommends that flexibility is not simply a security from oppression, but a way of life that permits development and progress. He indicates that if flexibility is just used to remain in a state of stagnancy, then it is not truly liberty. He is suggesting that freedom should be used to develop a much better life for oneself and for society as a whole. He is highlighting the importance of using flexibility to produce favorable change and development. He is also warning versus complacency and passiveness, as these can result in an absence of development and a lack of flexibility. Eventually, Stevenson's quote is a pointer that freedom is something that must be actively pursued and kept in order to be meaningful.
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