In that case the current orthodoxy happens to be…
““In that case the current orthodoxy happens to be challenged, and so the principle of free speech lapses. Now, when one demands liberty of speech and of the press, one is not demanding absolute liberty. There always must be, or at any rate there always will be, some degree of censorship, so long as organised societies endure. But freedom, as Rosa Luxembourg [sic] said, is ‘freedom for the other fellow’. The same principle is contained in the famous words of Voltaire: ‘I detest what you say; I will defend to the death your right to say it.’ If the intellectual liberty which without a doubt has been one of the distinguishing marks of western civilisation means anything at all, it means that everyone shall have the right to say and to print what he believes to be the truth, provided only that it does not harm the rest of the community in some quite unmistakable way.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Free speech is not absolute; it must be balanced with societal harm, protecting others while allowing dissent.
In simple terms: Speech must respect others.
Key Takeaway
Balance liberty with responsibility.
Themes
freedom
responsibility
society
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- media
- public debate
- lawmaking
- community standards
Key Concepts
political theory
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- When should speech be limited?
- Who decides what harms the community?
A Different Perspective
Censorship can protect but also suppress truth.