a wise man, whose name i can't recall, once said: "we are prisoners of our own imaginations, living within the boundaries of our own minds."

to what extent do you believe that is true?

Someone also once said "We're the victims of our freedom." The problem with "freedom" as a single term is that we can't define it properly because it makes no sense. Only an added aspect can give freedom a point - "freedom to..." and "freedom of...".

yeah, makes sense. there's no such thing as stand-alone freedom.

appreciate your input.

Freedom is psychological...not physical...i am FREE as can possibly beleive because i have not fallen to such beleifs as religion and government...sure i obey the rules they set forth...(most of them)....its not my fault that i have to pay for what i do....but like i said freedom is all up in the head, its not fake or imaginary...its a LIFE choice

Some, including D. Hume (and Hobbes, to a certain extent, although I fail to remember who said it first), would disagree, in that freedom also means not being physically prevented from doing/saying things. To one of the two, a free man is a man who is free to go about his own business.
Total freedom is a scam, however. There can be no total freedom if you're living with others; that's the basic principle of a social contract. However, contingent freedom (and rights) can exist, still.

correct me if im wrong...but the point im making is we are NEVER not in a million years going to change our so called "free country" (it isnt free at all) so the only thing to do is get the mind set that you are free in your own mental state.. there is no need in being "pessimistic" about the whole thing (im not saying you are, but there are plenty out there) and saying candy like...i wish i could do this or i wish i could do that when, the reality of it all is they are never going to acheive it without breaking some sort of rule....makes life a lot and i do mean...A LOT happier if you just forget about all the bounderies and focus on the freedom we DO have...i agree "physical freedom" is a scam but the one thing they can not take away from us...yet....is our mental freedom...which i have plenty of

Hey, you can still break the rules. But if you do, there's always hell to pay. It's called a social contract, and even your mental freedom is restricted. Think about your education, and all the stuff that they didn't tell you.

it wouldn't matter to me..i could be imprissioned in the most grotesc place on this planet and still be free in my mind....until they invent (if they already have then until they do) a device that can take away everything that i beleive in my own head...then im free as can be...there is no such thing as mental restriction unless you let there be....only you have the power to control your own thoughts not anyone else

Do you know what? If you ever come up with a concept/idea that you cannot relate to anything else at all, I'll buy you a pint if I ever see you.
The whole point of your "imagination" is that, with very rare exceptions, it takes stuff that you know and rearranges what you know into something that doesn't exist. However, the new thing is always related in some way to something real.
For example, people "invent" aliens, however they're always humanoid.
People "invent" Gods, and they always look like humans, and have the same virtues/vices as humans.
People also "invent" conspiracy theories, all with more or less the same plot. Works of art with almost the same style.

I think he was trying to say that he can still think whatever he wants and that he can always escape from a situation mentally (i.e. daydream).

Of course you can't create something which has no basis on your current knowledge. Like you said, you only have the power to shape what you already know into new things. The only way to know about something completely new is to discover it (i.e. through word of mouth, experiementation, ect.). You can't expect someone to completely create something that they don't know anything about.

well if you look at the movie the truman show you realise that what christof said "people accept the reality to which they are presented" is quite true but the true desire for freedom is unstoppable and cannot be denied