Institutional Exit and Principled Retreat

After decades of conflict with ecclesiastical authorities, Sor Juana eventually retreated from public writing and intellectual life, selling her extensive library and focusing on spiritual practice. This was not defeat but a final assertion of agency: she chose the terms of her withdrawal, maintained her principles, and refused compromise. In Libertarian justice, the right to exit—to leave institutions, communities, or systems that violate your freedom—is crucial for those with limited power to reform them. Exit is a property right: you own your time, your energy, your presence, and you can withdraw them. For Sor Juana, exit preserved her conscience when voice and loyalty became spiritually unsustainable. While tragic, her withdrawal illuminates that freedom sometimes requires the courage to leave rather than perpetually resist, ensuring that your intellectual property and moral integrity remain yours alone.