“Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err. It passes my comprehension how human beings, be they ever so experienced and able, can delight in depriving other human beings of that precious right.”
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Source: Young India (12 March 1931), p. 31
About this quote
Shielding people from their own mistakes sounds kind, but it quietly treats them as incapable. The dignity of choosing has to include the dignity of choosing badly and learning from it. A liberty that only permits the 'right' answer isn't liberty at all — it's supervision wearing a friendlier name.
When to use it
- A manager who reviews every email before it's sent, never letting the team make a call.
- A parent who finishes the science project perfectly instead of letting their kid try and stumble.
- A mentor who blocks a junior's risky idea rather than letting them learn from the outcome.