What is the difference, if any, between liberty and freedom?
Does it convey the same meaning if "Status of liberty" is replaced with "status of freedom" ? or every occurrence of "liberty" in Declaration of Independence is replaced with "freedom"?
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Doesn't liberty imply the pursuit of Happiness?
Best Answer
It's yet another example of this double foundation/richness of English
As in other occurrences of this double origin, there is a subtle distinction of freedom being more an everyday thing (because words from Saxon origin were preferred by common people) and liberty a more institutional thing (because Norman words were preferred by the ruling class).
I think it becomes more apparent if one says jokingly "Whenever people demand Freedom, all what they can hope for is actually Liberty";