“I must be free to build a staircase to Sirius if I want to.”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: Garbled OCR fragment ('...build a staircase to Sirius if I want to') from 'The Essential Gandhi'; likely a genuine underlying line, but the captured text is corrupted.
About this quote
Freedom worth the name includes the right to attempt things nobody else finds sensible. Autonomy isn't just permission to make safe, approved choices; it covers the extravagant and the impractical too. Strip out the room to chase a far-fetched aim and what's left is permission, not liberty.
When to use it
- A retiree who takes up competitive kite-building purely because it delights her, usefulness aside.
- A teenager allowed to pursue an odd hobby their parents don't understand but won't forbid.
- An employer who lets staff spend a slice of each week on projects that may lead nowhere.