"悖论似乎是,正如苏格拉底很久以前所证明的那样,真正自由的个体只有在自我掌控的程度上才是自由的。而那些不愿自我管理的人注定要找到主人来统治他们。"
— Steven Pressfield
Simplified Meaning:
This quote explains that true freedom comes from having control over yourself. Imagine you want to be good at playing the guitar. You have to practice regularly, control your time, and focus your efforts. It's not always fun, and there are many distractions, but sticking to your practice schedule is a form of self-discipline. Without that self-discipline, you won't progress, and you might end up feeling stuck, needing a teacher or someone else to constantly push you along. So, being free means setting and following your own rules rather than being forced to follow someone else's rules. If you don’t control your own actions and habits, you’ll likely have to rely on others to guide you, which means you’re not entirely free. Applying this to real life, if you want to succeed in anything, be it school, work, or a hobby, you need to govern your own actions and be disciplined. The more you manage yourself, the less you'll need to depend on others, making you freer to do what you genuinely want.