The intuition of free will gives us the truth.

Corliss Lamont, philosopher of human dignity, once declared: “The intuition of free will gives us the truth.” These words are not to be read as mere philosophy, but as a clarion call to the spirit. For within them is the affirmation that each soul carries within its breast the unshakable knowledge of its own freedom. Before the theories of men, before the doubts of skeptics, there stands the ancient certainty that we are not prisoners of fate, but architects of our destiny.

The origin of this insight springs from Lamont’s lifelong devotion to humanism, a belief that placed the torch of meaning not in distant gods or rigid determinism, but in the hands of living men and women. For centuries, sages and scientists have argued whether the universe binds us in chains of cause and effect. Yet Lamont turns to the intuition—that deep and quiet voice within—that says, “I choose. I act. I am free.” He shows us that this inner recognition is not illusion but truth, the truth that anchors responsibility, morality, and hope itself.

Consider the tale of Socrates, the Athenian sage. When condemned to death, he was offered escape by friends who feared for his life. Yet he refused. Why? Because he chose, freely and with calm strength, to remain faithful to the laws of his city and the integrity of his soul. Chains could not bind his spirit; poison could not conquer his will. His choice was his own, and in that moment he embodied the very truth Lamont speaks of—that free will, even in the face of death, is real and unassailable.

The intuition of freedom is not merely a lofty thought but a power that shapes civilizations. When enslaved peoples rose against their masters, when oppressed nations fought for liberty, it was not logic alone that guided them, but the deep conviction that they could will themselves into a new dawn. Free will is the seed of revolution, the root of justice, the strength of every human heart that has dared to say, “Things can be otherwise, because I choose otherwise.”

What, then, does Lamont mean when he says this intuition gives us the truth? He means that without it, life collapses into despair. If man is but a puppet, then love is meaningless, courage is empty, and sacrifice is dust. But if man is free, then every act is radiant with meaning. The embrace of a friend, the decision to forgive, the resolve to endure hardship—each becomes a testament to the truth of freedom. Our lives matter because we are not bound like stones rolling down a hill, but beings who can turn, decide, and carve paths where none existed.

The lesson for us is as old as fire: never surrender the belief in your own freedom. The world will press upon you with its circumstances, its hardships, its “you cannot.” But remember always that the flame of will burns within you, and no chain forged by circumstance can extinguish it. To live as though you are not free is to betray your essence; to live as though you are free is to awaken the divine within.

Practically, let this wisdom be your guide. When faced with despair, whisper to yourself: “I can choose.” When bound by habit, remember: “I can change.” When confronted by injustice, declare: “I will resist.” Write down your choices each day, even the smallest ones, and know that in them you exercise the sacred power Lamont speaks of. Let each decision, whether humble or heroic, become a stone in the temple of your destiny.

Thus, the words of Corliss Lamont ring across the ages: The intuition of free will gives us the truth. Hold fast to this truth, pass it to your children, and guard it as the foundation of a life well lived. For freedom is not given from without—it is discovered within, and it is there, in the hidden depths of the heart, that mankind finds both his burden and his glory.