Quotes About Freedom

was happiest finding my own way and did not require a liaison man. It had been my intention to stay on the train, without bothering about arriving anywhere; sightseeing

they claimed they were seeking political asylum (from the country known as "the world's biggest democracy").

Where are you going, Mr. Paul?' 'For a walk.' Mr. Fang conferred with his Hothot deputy. My walk was given official sanction, and I was driven about a hundred yards to the People's Park and released.

was ashamed of Father, who didn't care what anyone thought. And I envied him for being so free, and hated myself for feeling ashamed.

I was traveling south in sunshine, euphoric again, on the open road.

Africa had been deliverance for me, a liberating embrace and an opportunity.

I read about elsewheres, fantasizing about my freedom.

What I saw, what I experienced, the freedom of the trip, the people I met, the things I learned: my days were filled with road candy.

The greatest justification for travel is not self-improvement but rather performing a vanishing act, disappearing without a trace

the freedom of pandemonium

I decided to go because I had a free year.

This is a triumphant mood for a long trip, just slipping out and not telling anyone, and fairly sure that no one will notice I've gone.

But no sooner had I gotten behind the wheel than a feeling came over me that was like being caressed by a cosmic wind, reminding me of what travel at its best can do: I was set free.

for the space and spontaneity of a convenient and roomy country

Primeval forest,' he said. 'Original forest.' 'Wouldn't you like to build a house here and live alone with your wife?' 'Yes,' he said. 'Have a family and write something-poems and stories.' 'Maybe have four children.' 'It is not permitted,' he said. Then he smiled. 'But this is so far they wouldn't know. It wouldn't matter. Yes, I would like that.

Days you spend on the water are not deducted from your life," he said, and laughed. "Surfing keeps you from growing old.

If a train is large and comfortable you don't even need a destination; a corner seat is enough, and you can be one of those travelers who stay in motion, straddling the tracks, and never arrive or feel they ought to.

Reading 1984 might get people thinking about it,' I said.

I was happier than I had been since starting this trop on The Iron Rooster. I was driving. I was in charge. I was taking my time; and Tibet was empty. The weather was dramatic-snow on the hills, a high wind, and black clouds piled up on the mountains ahead. I also thought: I didn't die the other day.

If you are thoroughly sick of being kept waiting at home or at work, travel is perfect: let other people wait for a change. Travel is a sort of revenge for having been put on hold, having to leave messages on answering machines, not knowing your party's extension, being kept waiting all your working life—the homebound writer's irritants. Being kept waiting is the human condition.

There was no one else to blame anymore. No Bores or Old Ladies or Nortons, or Assassins waiting at the bridge. And there was no place to hide-no place across any river for a boatman to take us. Our life would be what we made of it-nothing more, nothing less. Baboons. Baboons. They build their own cages, we could almost hear the Pigman whisper, as he took his children with him.

A child's parents should be able to forbid their son or daughter from reading a book of mine or anyone else's. However, those same parents should have zero control over what everyone else's kids can read.

She let them go all night and in the mornings would find them coming toward her where she slept, with that alert and nervous air unridden horses always have at dawn. They are remembering some far time when predators came for them at first light. So they came toward her with the strange and painful air of fallen angels, treading carefully and slowly as if the earth were foreign soil.

What if she actually enjoyed her debasement?