I have now established myself in a most enviable manner. Those

Hear, O lovers of freedom and seekers of mastery, the proud words of Francisco Goya, who declared: “I have now established myself in a most enviable manner. Those who require something of me must seek me out—I remain apart. I work for no one unless he is a high-ranking personality or a friend.” In these words, we hear the triumph of an artist who has broken free from dependence, who no longer bends his will to the whims of patrons, but who stands apart as master of his own destiny. It is the voice of liberation, the declaration of one who has climbed from obscurity into the high places where choice belongs to him alone.

The meaning of this saying is twofold. First, Goya proclaims the victory of independence—the hard-won right to labor on one’s own terms, without begging for favor or bending under chains. Second, he exalts the power of selectivity: the ability to choose who is worthy of his work, to give his art not to the many, but to the few who matter, whether by station or by love. This is no arrogance, but the fruit of long striving, for only after years of toil and rejection could he speak thus. It is the ultimate prize of mastery—not merely wealth, not merely fame, but freedom.

The origin of these words lies in Goya’s own life. Born in modest circumstances in Aragón, he rose through persistence, craft, and courage to become painter to the Spanish court. Yet he was no mere servant of kings; he was also the fearless critic of power, whose dark works revealed the horrors of war and the corruption of authority. To establish himself so that others must come to him, so that he could choose to serve only those of rank or those he called friends, was the triumph of a life devoted to art, discipline, and resilience. His words are not the boast of privilege, but the earned dignity of one who fought his way into independence.

History offers us many mirrors to this truth. Consider Michelangelo, who, though forced at times to serve the will of popes and princes, reached a point where his genius commanded such respect that he could labor on his own terms, bending even the powerful to his vision. Or think of Beethoven, who broke free from the chains of noble patronage, declaring that his music would serve art itself and not the vanity of aristocrats. In each, as in Goya, we see the same arc: years of struggle followed by the hard-won prize of independence, when the artist stands apart and commands respect.

The lesson here is luminous: true greatness is not only the creation of beauty or power, but the attainment of freedom in one’s craft. To work under compulsion is necessary in the beginning, for no path is free of service. But if you labor with persistence, mastery, and courage, there will come a time when the world must seek you, when your skill is so undeniable that you may choose your work, your company, and your purpose. This is the enviable state of which Goya speaks—the point where work is not slavery but sovereignty.

Practical wisdom must follow. To all who labor in obscurity, do not despair. Serve where you must, but sharpen your craft daily, so that one day you may stand apart. Do not sell yourself cheaply; honor your worth. Work not only for the powerful, but also for those you love, those you call friends, for such work ennobles the heart. Seek always to grow, until the day comes when opportunity knocks at your door rather than you knocking at another’s.

So let Goya’s words echo as a call to the ages: strive until your art, your skill, your voice is so strong that others must seek you. Stand firm in your independence, serve only where honor is found, and guard your freedom as the most precious reward. For the highest prize of labor is not only recognition, but sovereignty—the power to say, “I remain apart.”

Thus, O children of tomorrow, take heed: struggle with patience, master your craft, and rise until you are no longer bound by the chains of necessity. Then, like Goya, you will labor not as servant, but as sovereign—choosing your work, honoring your worth, and living in the dignity of freedom.