Theme

Philosophy quotes about autonomy

Autonomy appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat autonomy as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.

Why this theme matters

Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Seneca and Mary Wollstonecraft), autonomy is framed through Stoicism and Feminist Philosophy. Some passages define autonomy; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language.

In the history of philosophy

Discussions of autonomy travel through Greek and European modern traditions. Compare the quotations below with their school labels rather than forcing a single definition.

Thinkers in this collection

Seneca , Michel de Montaigne , Mary Wollstonecraft , Immanuel Kant , Wang Yangming , Simone de Beauvoir , Linji Yixuan

Frequently asked questions

What did philosophers say about autonomy?

They disagreed in productive ways. In this archive, Seneca, Mary Wollstonecraft, and related voices treat autonomy as something to clarify, cultivate, or critique—not merely to celebrate.

Where can I find philosophy quotes about autonomy?

This theme page gathers 8 verified English quotations tagged Autonomy, with links to thinkers and sources.

How should I read quotes about autonomy?

Read the sentence, then check school and source. A compact line is an entry point into an argument about autonomy, not a substitute for the surrounding text.

  1. All else belongs to others; time alone is ours.
  2. Claim yourself for yourself.
  3. The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.
  4. I do not wish them to have power over men; but over themselves.
  5. Enlightenment is the human being's emergence from his self-incurred immaturity.
  6. That little bit of innate knowing of yours is your own criterion.
  7. I wish to persuade women to endeavor to acquire strength, both of mind and body.
  8. The curse which lies upon marriage is that too often the individuals are joined in their weakness rather than in their strength.
  9. If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha; if you meet a patriarch, kill the patriarch; if you meet an arhat, kill the arhat.
  10. There is a true person of no rank who is always coming and going through the gates of your face.