Full Idea
The only genuinely free person is one who lives with his entire mind guided solely by reason.
Gist of Idea
People are only free if they are guided entirely by reason
Source
Baruch de Spinoza (Tractatus Theologico-Politicus [1670], 16.10)
Book Reference
Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Theological-Political Treatise', ed/tr. Israel,Jonathan [CUP 2007], p.201
A Reaction
It strikes me as blatantly impossible to be entirely guided by reason. His point is that it is a subservience to reason which is entirely chosen. Why is that different from choosing to be entirely subservient to another person?
Related Idea
Idea 19924 The freest state is a rational one, where people can submit themselves to reason [Spinoza]