This paper reflects some of my PhD research into the ability of subjects to express themselves in a ‘free and frank’ manner to authority figures in an educational context. In doing so I draw particularly on Michel Foucault and his concept of Parrhesia, Leo Tolstoy’s writing connected with social action and education, together with Lauren Berlant’s concept of ‘Impasse’. Writing under these influences I begin with an outline of autonomy, freedom and truth before entering into a description of one aspect of Foucault’s Parrhesia. I then relate this to a sample of my interview respondents’ experiences in an educational context, before continuing with a short discussion of coercion and authority.