The only thing that makes freedom valuable is the fact that we can give it up for something we believe in. Freedom is essentially useless if you don’t use it for something you care about, but rather continuously keep all of your options open.
…discipline coincides with coercion only when it is needed to serve someone whose interests are not aligned to yours. Instead, when discipline originates from your objectives, it leads to freedom. It is what prevents you from being coerced by others.
— [[100-truths-you-will-learn-too-late-the-really-important-kind-of-freedom-involves-attention-and-awareness-and-discipline-and-being-able-truly-to-care-about-other-people-and-to-sacrifice-for-them-over-and-over-in-myriad-petty-unsexy-ways-every-day-this-is-water-by-david-foster-wallace-full-transcript-and-audio|100 Truths You Will Learn Too Late
The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day.
— [[This is Water by David Foster Wallace (Full Transcript and Audio)]]