Analyse
The exact phrasing appears in Gandhi’s 1925 essay *'The Duty of Disobedience'* (published in *Young India*, March 12, 1925), where he states: '**Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err.**' The paraphrased version in the claim preserves the core meaning, though the wording differs slightly. The statement aligns with Gandhi’s broader philosophy on civil liberties and moral responsibility, as documented in *The Collected Works* (Vol. 25, p. 312).
Achtergrond
Gandhi frequently explored the tension between individual liberty and collective discipline in his writings, particularly during India’s independence movement. His 1920s essays in *Young India* and *Navajivan* often emphasized self-rule (*swaraj*) as both a political and personal ideal, where freedom included accountability for one’s actions. *The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi* (1958–94) compiles these texts, including the 1925 essay referenced.
Samenvatting verdict
Gandhi did write a closely matching statement in *Young India* (1925), later included in *The Collected Works*, affirming the sentiment about freedom and mistakes.