The fact that philosopher Frederick Nietzsche went insane in his mid forties may count him as an unreliable source but his definition of freedom from The Gay Science (Die fröhliche Wissenschaft, 1882) is one I copied down in 1981 and still rings true:
“What does your conscience say? – You should become him who you are.
Where lie your greatest dangers? – In pity
What do you love in others? – My hopes
Whom do you call bad? – Him who always wants to make me ashamed
What to you is the most humane thing – To spare anyone shame
What is the seal of freedom attained – No longer to feel ashamed of oneself”.
