Quotes About Autonomy

Unschooling is creating an environment in which children can learn easily and naturally all the time.

Each act is an island in time, to be judged on its own.

I must settle for freedom in this modern time

I can't remember a single time [my parents] ever told me not to do something I wanted to do.

There is no such thing as time management; there is only self-management.

You cannot force me to agree with you. You can force me to act as though I agree with you but then you'll have to watch your back. All the time.

the voluntary relinquishing of responsibility for our lives and our actions is one of the greatest enemies of our time.

I've always felt like I was on the margins. Once upon a time that's what independent used to mean.

I am a pretty crazy person, so it's best for me to be on my own most of the time.

I don't know what this Liberty thing is all about, Rachel. None of us do, yet. I pray that if we ever achieve it, we will know how to control it. And not let it control us.

A maiden-woman, as independent as myself, need not envy any girl the doubtful blessing of a husband. I chose to be independent, and I am, and what more is there to be said about it?

There is only room in the lifeboat of your life for one, and you always choose yourself, and turn your parents into whatever it takes to keep you afloat.

Control is a nice concept, little more.

Nora had discovered that by herself was a condition she really liked

But you are the only person alive who has sole custody of your life.

It was just that she could not imagine what it would be like to share her life. She could not imagine not being able to switch on the reading lamp next to her bed if she could not sleep at midnight, or having to ask someone else's opinion on dinner plans or weekend guests. She had had her ways from the time she was young, and she had never had to change them.

You think, because I always do as you bid me, I have no judgment of my own: but only try me—that is all I ask—and you shall see what I can do.

Never! while heaven spares my reason,' replied I, snatching away the hand he had presumed to seize and press between his own.

You think, because I always do as you bid me, I have no judgement of my own: but only try me — that is all I ask — and you shall see what I can do.

The Hmong never had any interest in ruling over the Chinese or anyone else; they wanted merely to be left alone, which, as their later history was also to illustrate, may be the most difficult request any minority can make of a majority culture.

When your child is in the hospital, suddenly somebody else is feeding them, somebody else is changing their pants, somebody else is deciding how and when they will be bathed. It takes all the autonomy of being a parent away, even for folks who have had a lot of medical experience. It would be that much harder if you were from another culture and didn't understand the purpose of all these things.

Now I only have one rule. Before I do anything I ask, Is it okay? Because I'm an American woman and they don't expect me to act like a Hmong anyway, they usually give me plenty of leeway.

How true Daddy's words were when he said: all children must look after their own upbringing. Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.

I've drawn myself apart from them all; I am my own skipper and later on I shall see where I come to land