"Man at his best must be active, not reactive; he must strive rather than submit as a puppet.  Man must author his own behavior, rather than have it dictated by authority.  Man is not a pawn to the dictates of others; at his best man is the origin of his actions."

Richard de Charms (1968)

Although one's being active and the author and originator of one's actions can refer to taking external action, a hidden truth appears when the reference is to internal action:  causation, in terms of manifestation of external events, begins with the mastering of internal action, i.e., not reacting internally to external events, acting with equanimity (internal non-reaction coupled with external action), and deliberately utilizing only those thoughts which you truly want to have.

Nonetheless, the quote, when referring to external action, symbolizes freedom and the courage to stand up to any force which would otherwise seek to control or limit one's actions.

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