"we like the idea of freedom and admire those who feel free, but at the same time we are afraid of freedom, and tend at times to be drawn towards being controlled."

It is commonly assumed that we all love freedom and are willing to fight and to die for it. That such an assumption is untrue and dangerous is recognized by a few - who nevertheless fail, it seems to me, to understand what they describe. The truth seems to be that we like the idea of freedom and admire those who feel free, but at the same time we are afraid of freedom, and tend at times to be drawn towards being controlled. we like the idea of freedom and admire those who feel free, but at the same time we are afraid of freedom, and tend at times to be drawn towards being controlled. 86 years and many wars later this essay by Winnicott really hits home. Previous