Full Idea
The liberty of the ancients was their active participation in the exercise of political power, not the peaceful enjoyment of personal independence.
Gist of Idea
Ancient freedom was free participation in politics, not private independence of life
Source
Will Kymlicka (Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn) [1990], 7.2.a)
Book Reference
Kymlicka,Will: 'Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn)' [OUP 1992], p.250
A Reaction
Interesting. It takes a feat of imagination to grasp a world where the desire for freedom to sit at home and compile a database of philosophical ideas never even crossed anyone's mind.