FREEDOM
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. The whole movement of man’s life is towards greater freedom. As a child grows up his dependence upon his parents and family progressively diminishes, while his freedom and self-reliance increase all the time. The goal of life seems to be headed in the direction of complete liberty but what do we understand by the word freedom? Freedom only means the capability of self-government. For the highest function of freedom is to make us capable of governing ourselves. Nietzsche says, “He who cannot obey himself will be commanded”. Freedom does not mean liberty to do anything that one pleases. Freedom has no meaning without responsibility, for only the responsible can be truly free for nothing is liable to greater abuse than freedom.
2. All development is a process whereby we learn how to make the right choices. Hence it won’t be far from the truth to say that all values are created in freedom. And what, one may ask, is the purpose of freedom? The purpose of freedom is only one — it is perfection. “The entire process of time and development is from the less to the more perfect, whether it be in moral, ethical, physical, mental or spiritual perfection.” Freedom is the necessary condition in which the ideal of perfection may be realized. Complete freedom of choice means complete freedom to do what you want to do — and is the only means to self-realization. The fully realized being is the highest ideal, not only because he fulfils himself, but also because being fully realized, he helps others to achieve their true potential. Mill says that “In proportion to the development of his individuality, each person becomes more valuable to him and is, therefore, more capable of being more valuable to others.
3. Freedom, rather than meaning unrestricted license, means total self-discipline, for discipline alone, gives us freedom. Discipline is the means of achieving that which a free mind has evolved. Discipline is not an obstruction to freedom, but a passage to it, for the more imposed upon you if you cannot discipline yourself. Discipline means order while freedom may exist in chaos. And nothing worthwhile can be achieved where there are disorder and anarchy. Chaos has no power to affect anything worthwhile, and diffused energy is totally important. The only discipline can focus on it. So give up all ideas you may have that freedom meant doing anything that you fancy, for if you fancy disorder, you are not free but bound. Know that only he has the liberty that has control. Only he has the speed that has breaks, only he must fly who can land. Only he must start who can stop. Liberty without control is like a car without breaks. It will crash. Freedom has no meaning to achieve the objectives of humanity.
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage answer each of the questions given below with the help of options that follow:
(a) According to Nietzsche, the true meaning of the word ‘freedom’ is
(i) the capability of self-governance (ii) ability to be commanded
(iii) liberty to do anything one pleases (iv) taking responsibility
(b) a self-reliant man is of great value because
(i) he fulfils himself (ii) he helps others to achieve perfection
(iii) he is perfect in himself (iv) he is a role model for others
(c) the purpose of freedom is
(i) to achieve perfection
(ii) to move from more perfection to less perfection
(iii) to grow mentally and physically strong
(iv) all of the above
(d) According to the writer, discipline means
(i) an obstruction to freedom (ii) order in a chaotic situation
(iii) anything worthwhile (iv) a state of anarchy
Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:
(e) What does the writer want to illustrate by using the example of the child in the first paragraph?
(f) According to the writer, what is the misconception that people have about the meaning of freedom?
(g) According to the writer who is a truly developed soul?
(h) How does discipline affect diffused energy?
(i) How can we define development?
(j) What similarity does the writer draw between liberty and a car?
(k) Find words from the passage which mean the same as each of the following:
(i)misuse/mishandling (pare 1)
(ii) disorder/chaos (pare 3)
ANSWERS:-
(a) (i); (b) (ii);
(c) (i); (d) (ii)
(e) The example of the child is being used as a way to illustrate one of the ways in which a person moves towards greater independence. A newborn is completely dependent on his/her parents for food, care, protection, etc. However, as he/she grows, there is a greater tendency towards becoming more independent.
(f) It is a misconception that freedom means liberty to do anything we please. Instead, true freedom only comes through total self-discipline.
(g) A truly developed soul is one who not only fulfils himself but also helps others achieve their true potential.
(h) Discipline can focus diffused energy, making it useful.
(i) Development can be defined as the process of learning to make the right choices.
(j) The author compares liberty without control to a car without brakes. That means if freedom is a car, the only safe way to drive it is to be disciplined.
(k) (i) abuse (ii) anarchy
Download the above Passage in PDF Worksheet (Printable)
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