Everyone in this world likes to be free. In fact, freedom is a cherished goal of everyone. So, does it mean that people dislike regulations and restrictions and want only absolute freedom? I think not. I believe that people in fact prefer restrictions and regulations to absolute freedom.

Absolute freedom implies freedom from all controls. It may look like an ideal situation for everyone to seek. But absolute freedom carries a burden of responsibility along with it. If I am free to do whatever I want, it all means that I and I alone am responsible for all my actions. This fear of responsibility, to a great extent, makes people accept at least some restrictions so that they will not have to shoulder the entire responsibility.

Let us take the case of a child. Initially, every child will resist any attempt by its parents to control its activities or movements. But once a child comes to know of the dangers like falling down or getting hurt, it becomes wiser and begins to accept some kind of control by the parents, because it becomes aware that such control gives the child protection.

As we grow up, we become more independent. We are no longer bound by parental control. There are no regulations holding us back from what we want to do. Yet, we subject ourselves to restrictions, often voluntarily and willingly. Many of us have our own system of discipline. What is discipline? Discipline is a system of restrictions we bind ourselves to.

In professional life, people are happy to be controlled by systems as well as by people because such control keeps them away from committing mistakes and facing problems. And in private life, people enjoy a certain amount of control by their spouses, friends and the society.

However, people will not accept too many restrictions and controls. Excessive controls will have the effect of taking away one’s freedom and make one feel resentful of any control. Therefore, restrictions should be reasonable.

Overall, people will prefer restrictions to absolute freedom as long as the restrictions allow people to enjoy their freedom. People may deny such a preference because this preference is mostly unconscious and people, in general, are consciously unaware of their choosing a system of restrictions over absolute freedom.