Thucydides — The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom is courage.
The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom is courage.Thucydides
Attributed to Thucydides
A chain runs through this line: courage unlocks freedom, and freedom opens the door to happiness. Skip the first link and the others never arrive.
Speaking a new language freely takes courage first — the courage to be imperfect. But on the far side of that small daily bravery is a real freedom: to connect, to travel, to be yourself in more of the world.
Words that widen the world
The power to act, speak, or think without restriction.
Synonyms: liberty, independence, latitude
Fluency gave her the freedom to speak her mind.
The key or hidden reason behind something.
Synonyms: key, basis, essence
The secret of progress is showing up daily.
Common questions
It means happiness depends on freedom, and freedom in turn depends on having the courage to claim and use it.
It is attributed to the ancient Greek historian Thucydides, though the exact wording is debated, so we mark it as attributed.
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