Freedom Vs. Responsibility

[newfangle]

I was just skimming through some threads, and I noticed Sysyphus' signature:

With freedom comes responsibility, that is why most men dread it. - George B. Shaw

In a way, I agree. Because 100% freedom creates a situation where a man has to be completely independant and only work for himself, it would also reflect the highest level of responsibility.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Aphex_Twin]

If you understand your responsibility, then it no longer feels as a burden, and you are free. Perhaps the best compromise you can make.

 

[Hitro]

Responsibility for yourself is freedom.

 

[G-Man]

Freedom and responsibility are not one against the other as the title would suggest, rather they go together, as said by the quote.
That's why you can't have complete freedom - no one is completely responsible.

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

The only freedoms are the freedoms to take responsibility for your own life.

When the government takes that away, it may talk about responsibilities, but it's really tyranny.

 

[sysyphus]

I thought it made a good point, hence why I used it for my sig after seeing it on a billboard advertising for the Shaw festival.

In the free world, we are always ranting about our rights, but how many people are well aware of thei responsibilities?

Democracy is the best system, but not perfect. When power is put into the hands of the people, then it's up to the people to make it work.

I believe, for one thing, that along with the right to vote, we have the responsibility to understand the issues and to keep abreast of them with an open and objective mind.

Now of course, it is impossible for anyone to be completely open minded an dobjective, we all some prejudices to a certain degree, and we cannot know everything about everything, but the collective wisdom is what governs the state, therefore we must each improve on our part of that wisdom the best we can.

Perhaps anyone would care to discuss other right/responsibility pairings?

 

[Souron]

Responsibility limits your freedom. Both are good thing and a ballance is ideal.

"the gov't inforces "responsibility", making it not be responsibility any more but law. A moral crimanl would prefer law over a need to enforce responsibility on yourself.

Now who ever heard of a moral crimanal? there are very few, if any.

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

You do not really have "responsibilities", as much as obligations, that you are coerced into doing through fear of reprisal.

Good or bad? Probably a bit of both.

 

[samildanach]

With freedom comes responsibility, that is why most men dread it. - George B. Shaw

We are all born with a debt to death which can be collected at any time. Being free of restrictions, fear etc. would lead most men to repay that debt sooner than they would like. So I guess Shaw may be right in that most men dread freedom.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Forget about dreading freedom, most men can scarcely even recognize it when they see it.

 

[Hawkster]

Personally I think that (certainly in this country and EU as a whole) this quotation should be given to every politician to learn. It seems that there is a move to give individuals ever more freedom (or at least so called 'rights' ) without demanding or expecting them to behave responsibly in return - surely the two go together?

I think it is wrong for individuals to not take responsibility for their own actions or choices but it seems that this is not the case anymore - if anything goes wrong - then call min the lawyers and claim compensation - rather than admit any individual failing.

It's a crazy world getting crazier!

 

[Hamlet]

Any enfranchisement, be it through an increase in freedom or power does indeed demand responsiblity. I totally agree.

 

[WickedSmurf]

The signature is completely accurate, it is a good choice of a sig. I agree with it.