Richard Rohr Quotes

Analysis gave me great freedom of emotions and fantastic confidence. I felt I had served my time as a puppet.

Freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it ourselves. It is a daily practice... No one can prevent you from being aware of each step you take or each breath in and breath out.

I don't want any man to have control over me.

A great burden was lifted from my shoulders the day I realized that no one owes me anything.

Let your children go if you want to keep them.

We gain freedom when we have paid the full price.

If we wish to free ourselves from enslavement, we must choose freedom and the responsibility this entails.

Whoever will be free must make himself free. Freedom is no fairy gift to fall into a man's lap.

Freedom is not of use to those who do not know how to employ it.

Empowerment is a word that comes with liberty.

I've gotten used to not having all the responsibility on my shoulders.

You don't have to wait for anyone's approval to do things.

Everything that frees our spirit without giving us control of ourselves is ruinous.

I don't need money, or, better, it's not money that I need; it's not even power; I need only what is obtained by power and simply cannot be obtained without power: the solitary and calm awareness of strength! That is the fullest definition of freedom, which the world so struggles over!

Look not to the politicians; look to yourselves.

So our future is in our own hands. What greater free will do we need?

And perhaps our awareness is the first step to our liberation.

There is nothing wrong with underlining personal agency, but there is something unfair about using personal responsibility as a basis for assigning blame while simultaneously denying those who are being blamed the opportunity to exert agency in their lives

We can only make ourselves the victim.

It's not when you realize that nothing can help you — religion, pride, anything — it's when you realize that you don't need any aid.

Freedon succeeds from the moment people stop looking to others to improve their lives and start taking responsibility.

If you need somebody you can trust, trust yourself

No diety will save us; we must save ourselves.

Happiness is a powerful thing. It freed me to do what I always wanted to do.

Accept the responsibility of being yourself as you are, with all that is good and with all that is bad, with all that is beautiful and that which is not beautiful. In that acceptance a transcendence happens and one becomes free.