freedom

no doubt, the human being is a finite creature, and their freedom is limited. this is not freedom from conditions, but the freedom to take a stand toward conditions. in the final analysis, the human being is a self-determining creature. a person does not simply exist; instead, they always decide the fate of their existence, what they will be in the next moment. one of the fundamental characteristics of human existence is the capacity to rise above conditions and grow beyond them. the human being has the capacity, whenever it is possible, to change the world and, when necessary, themselves for the better. yet freedom is not the last word. freedom is only part of the story and half the truth. freedom is nothing but the negative side of a phenomenon whose positive side is responsibility. in fact, unless it is lived in terms of responsibility, freedom is in danger of degenerating.

man's search for meaning, viktor frankl