William Faulkner, (1897-1962) Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page William Faulkner Quote “We cannot choose freedom established on a hierarchy of degrees of freedom, on a caste system of equality like military rank. We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.”William Faulkner ~ William Faulkner (1897-1962)Harper’s Magazine, June 1956 Freedom , Liberty , Military , Responsibility Ratings and Comments Reply Mike, Norwalk 4/20/10 I like it. Reply J Carlton, Calgary 4/20/10 Great quote. Sadly though too many of us have been trained to sit and clap like seals waiting for the government to throw us a fish....chanting yes we can yes we can... Reply Anon 4/20/10 Practicing means putting into action and putting into action means living it in your own life and of course that means living how our forefathers lived. Can you handle it? 1 Reply Waffler, Smith 4/20/10 We have often not practiced it, and too often our forefathers did not practice it. Writing in 1956 I have to believe that Faulkner, a son of Mississippi, had in mind the caste system of Jim Crow, and discrimination throughout the nation. The election of Barack Obama is maybe the greatest example of US having arrived, at least politically, at a higher level, not heierarchically, but at a much higher level of practicing freedom. America looked upon by much of the world (and correctly) as a nation of white people, elected a black man (or at least half black and half white) as President. We are, if only just lately, starting to practice our freedom. LET FREEDOM RING! Reply RBESRQ 4/20/10 Perfect! if only it were so... I hear Europe is going Liberal perhaps we should follow. Reply Mike, Norwalk 4/20/10 Robert, if your talking about their desocialistizing <-(-;do you like that word?;-); backing off socialized medicine, etc. I'm with you, I think we should head that way also. They already have more than 10X (+) fewer criminal laws than the US. 1 Reply J Carlton, Calgary 4/20/10 Waffler, I think it's neither good nor bad that America elected a black man as I don't beleive it is relevant or significant. I would love to see Alan Keyes as President though if "black" is the criteria you wish to use. But Obama is a step to PreConstitutional times in that he is NOT an American. If he is, then why has he spent millions to hide his past? And why has Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas stated that the Supreme Court has been evading all question regarding Obama's eligibility? I meanif he's American, it should be a slam dunk right? But he isn't...so that's just not progress...that's treason. Reply Waffler, Smith 4/20/10 Claence Thomas has no jurisdiction until a case is brought before him. A case has not and will not because they ain't no case and never will be. It is only idiots who think there is. My comments are concerning American freedom and that a minority or presumed minority man of different racial make uip than the majority can be elected. Guys like you J also think Hitler is alive, and the holocaust never happened. I think it is good for the body politic that a man can be elected based on his brain and not on his color or party or m SaveOk2 SaveOk2 View CommentsClick to view or comment. Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print This William Faulkner quote is found in these categories: Freedom quotes Liberty quotes Military quotes Responsibility quotes About William Faulkner Bio of William Faulkner Quotations by William Faulkner Books by/about William Faulkner William Faulkner videos William Faulkner on Wikipedia Astrological chart for William Faulkner