Philosophy

A time comes, when the will is free not merely in that it offers us occasion for unlimited exercise, nor in representing freedom of choice in the awareness of a complete lack of necessity and constraint previous to each particular choice, but by taking on and leading a life of its own, independent of ours. Until such a time, we tend to feel responsible for our will. We may even insist on its freedom in the face of adverse circumstance, as when we point to our rights, for the sake of principle perhaps, or for getting our way. But suddenly we discover that we have been making a mistake to the degree that we have considered this will to be ours to the detriment of any other being, to the degree that we felt satisfaction or even experienced pride, rather than showing gratitude, for any freedom of choice of which we found ourselves capable. And perhaps to our own surprise, we recognize that mistake gladly. (from the text)