Freedom is something that dies unless it's used.

Freedom dies when you stop using it

We tend to think of freedom as something we possess, like a bank account that stays full as long as we don't touch it. But Thompson's point cuts against that. Freedom isn't a static thing you can just hold onto—it's more like a muscle that atrophies without use. When you stop exercising your right to speak up, make unpopular choices, or challenge what you're told, those capacities actually weaken. Not just in you, but in the culture around you.

This matters more than it sounds because it explains why people often feel less free even as their legal rights remain unchanged. You can have the theoretical freedom to disagree with your boss, your family, or the algorithm, but if you never actually do it, that freedom becomes theoretical only. It dies quietly. The people who speak up awkwardly, who make weird choices, who ask uncomfortable questions—they're not just being difficult. They're keeping the muscle alive for everyone.

The surprising part is that freedom often feels most alive right after you use it, even when it's uncomfortable or costly. That moment of genuine choice, even a small one, reminds you it exists. The reverse is equally true: the longer you stay safe and compliant, the easier it becomes to believe you never really had options at all.