"The spirit becomes free only when it ceases to be a support"
- Franz Kafka
About this Quote
In this quote, Kafka is recommending that real freedom can only be attained when one no longer depends on external assistance. The "spirit" describes one's inner self or awareness, and the idea is that it can only be really complimentary when it is not based on anything or anyone else. This could be analyzed as a call for self-reliance and self-reliance, as well as a warning versus ending up being too dependent on others for recognition or guidance. It likewise speaks to the idea of breaking free from social norms and expectations, and finding one's own path towards real flexibility.
"The 4th Amendment and the personal rights it secures have a long history. At the very core stands the right of a man to retreat into his own home and there be free from unreasonable governmental intrusion"
"Households, cities, countries, and nations have enjoyed great happiness when a single individual has taken heed of the Good and Beautiful. Such people not only liberate themselves; they fill those they meet with a free mind"
