I do not believe that it can be too often repeated that…
“I do not believe that it can be too often repeated that the freedoms of speech, press, petition and assembly guaranteed by the First Amendment must be accorded to the ideas we hate or sooner or later they will be denied to the ideas we cherish. The first banning of an association because it advocates hated ideas - whether that association be called a political party or not - marks a fateful moment in the history of a free country.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Freedom of expression must protect even hateful ideas, lest the same protections be withdrawn from beloved ideas later.
In simple terms: Defend all speech to safeguard cherished ideas.
Key Takeaway
Never limit speech, even if offensive.
Themes
free speech
civil liberties
democracy
tolerance
political discourse
Mood
cautious
determined
Type
legal
political
When to use this quote
- legislative debates
- media reporting
- public policy
- education curricula
Key Concepts
constitutional law
ethics
political theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we draw the line between hateful speech and protected speech?
- What responsibilities accompany free expression?
A Different Perspective
Balancing speech protection with preventing harm is challenging.