"自由对于科学和人文艺术的进步是绝对必要的"

The idea here is pretty straightforward: to make real progress in science and the arts, people need to be free. Freedom here means the ability to think, question, and explore without restrictions.

Let’s rewind a bit. This concept has roots in the Enlightenment period. Think about Galileo, who faced the Inquisition for saying the Earth wasn’t the center of the universe. Or more recently, consider artists and writers who’ve been censored or persecuted for their work. When people are free to explore and express, they make breakthroughs. When they’re not, progress stalls.

Picture this: It’s the early 1900s, and Albert Einstein is a young clerk in a Swiss patent office. He’s got the freedom to think about his “crazy” ideas on relativity because he’s not bogged down by strict institutional demands. If he’d been in a more oppressive environment, maybe he would have kept his head down, and we wouldn’t have had the theory of relativity. That’s practical freedom in action.

So how can you use this idea in your own life? Think about the times you’ve felt most creative or productive. Were you micromanaged, or did you have the space to explore? Aim to create an environment where you (and others) have the freedom to experiment. If you’re a manager, give your team the autonomy to tackle projects in their own way. If you’re a parent, encourage your kids to ask questions and explore their interests.

Imagine a classroom where the teacher says, “We’re going to learn about the solar system today, but you get to decide how.” One student builds a model, another writes a story set in space, and another codes a simple app showing the planets’ orbits. Each student is free to explore in their own way, and they all end up learning more deeply because of it.

Let’s get personal. I had a friend in college who was an amazing artist, but her parents wanted her to be a lawyer. Every time she went home, she felt stifled, and her work suffered. When she finally sat them down and explained how much art meant to her, they relented, and she flourished. She held her first gallery show a year later. Her freedom to pursue what she loved made all the difference.

The key takeaway? Whether you’re trying to make a scientific breakthrough or create the next great piece of art, you need the freedom to explore, question, and sometimes fail. And if you’re in a position to give someone that freedom, do it. Who knows what amazing things might come from it?