self-rule

You made me laugh at your jokes.You made me cry at your criticism.You made me shout at your lies.Then I noticed how in every case someone else was present, hearing you without laughter or tears or anger.I alone reacted.I see now; you never made me laugh or cry or rage.I chose to find humor.I chose to take offense.I chose to feel scorned.The truth is, you never had power over me.

If you truly want to be respected by people you love, you must prove to them that you can survive without them.

It is a truth widely recognized that tyranny stems from the consent of the governed as much as democracy does.

Do not seek to rule any man other than yourself.