--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Protecting free speech is not only a…" description: "\"Protecting free speech is not only a matter of principle, it is also pragmatic.\" — Amal Clooney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/amal-clooney-29013_communication_protecting-free-speech-is-not-only-a-mat_524112.jpg" --- # Protecting free speech is not only a matter of principle… ![“Protecting free speech is not only a matter of principle, it is also pragmatic.” quote by Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/amal-clooney-29013_communication_protecting-free-speech-is-not-only-a-mat_524112.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/amal-clooney-29013_communication_protecting-free-speech-is-not-only-a-mat_524112.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/amal-clooney-29013_communication_protecting-free-speech-is-not-only-a-mat_524112.jpg) > “Protecting free speech is not only a matter of principle, it is also pragmatic.” [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Defending free speech is both a moral duty and a practical necessity for open societies. **In simple terms:** Free speech is both principle and practicality. Key Takeaway Protect speech, recognize its practical benefits. Themes human rights law society communication Mood thoughtful determined Type ethical political When to use this quote - legal advocacy - media regulation - online platforms - education Key Concepts democracy public discourse policy Questions to Reflect On - How does free speech support societal progress? - When might limits be justified? A Different Perspective Balancing free speech with hate speech concerns can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-speech/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Pragmatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pragmatic/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) [Principle Pragmatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-pragmatic-4416189/) [Protecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protecting/) [Protecting Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protecting-free-4416191/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) ## Related quotes > [The fact that Western Muslims are free means that they can have enormous impact. But it would be wrong to claim that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/the-fact-that-western-muslims-are-free-means-that-they-can-have/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [Protecting the sanctity of life is a matter of principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/protecting-the-sanctity-of-life-is-a-matter-of-principle/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Secondly, security. Both the challenges we face in the world and the responsibilities that our country has in protecting our people, are major issues.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/secondly-security-both-the-challenges-we-face-in-the-world-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Before computers, telephone lines and television connect us, we all share the same air, the same oceans, the same mountains and rivers. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-louis-dreyfus/before-computers-telephone-lines-and-television-connect-us-we-all/) [Julia Louis-Dreyfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-louis-dreyfus/) > [“Stop using him, and start protecting him. I know he thinks he doesn't need it, but sometimes he does. Sometimes we all do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/stop-using-him-and-start-protecting-him-i-know-he-thinks-he-doesn-t/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [We will remain vigilant, and we will not forget that protecting America means that we will defend the principles on which it was founded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-will-remain-vigilant-and-we-will-not-forget-that-protecting/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [The Affordable Care Act has been designed to provide health security by driving competition, lowering premiums, and protecting families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/the-affordable-care-act-has-been-designed-to-provide-health-security/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [We should be working for protecting unity and integrity of the country... We should all strive to maintain a conducive atmosphere among the different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnath-singh/we-should-be-working-for-protecting-unity-and-integrity-of-the/) [Rajnath Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnath-singh/) > [I care about the people saying they're protecting us not protecting us. 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Who's going to stop YOU from hurting me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/universalclockwork/the-one-person-my-heart-needs-protecting-from-is-the-only-person/) [UniversalClockwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/universalclockwork/) > [The thing about gay people is that until we come out of the closet, we're always protecting other people: 'I can't do this, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-halford/the-thing-about-gay-people-is-that-until-we-come-out-of-the-closet-we/) [Rob Halford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-halford/) > [Be ruthless about protecting writing days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I've said before, the number one thing that we have to work on is protecting the gay community from sharia law. Now, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foster-friess/i-ve-said-before-the-number-one-thing-that-we-have-to-work-on-is/) [Foster Friess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foster-friess/) ## More by Amal Clooney > [If you don't have a good case, and you don't have a good message, then shining a light on it is not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-clooney/if-you-don-t-have-a-good-case-and-you-don-t-have-a-good-message-then/) [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) > [As women, we may not be a minority, but there is a bond that we all share. It is not a bond of geography.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-clooney/as-women-we-may-not-be-a-minority-but-there-is-a-bond-that-we-all/) [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) > [I think it's important for tourists to know the facts of what's happening in the Maldives. I don't think people realize that there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-clooney/i-think-it-s-important-for-tourists-to-know-the-facts-of-what-s/) [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) > [I wanted to do well academically. But it was equally important to do things in an effortless manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-clooney/i-wanted-to-do-well-academically-but-it-was-equally-important-to-do/) [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) > [No government intent on persecuting its critics will want to leave the outcome of a trial to chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-clooney/no-government-intent-on-persecuting-its-critics-will-want-to-leave/) [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) > [Cross-cultural learning and studying abroad can be transformative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-clooney/cross-cultural-learning-and-studying-abroad-can-be-transformative/) [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) > [The first piece of advice I would have from my experience is that governments need to be vocal about human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-clooney/the-first-piece-of-advice-i-would-have-from-my-experience-is-that/) [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) > [Locking up dissenters does not reduce dissent - it fosters it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-clooney/locking-up-dissenters-does-not-reduce-dissent-it-fosters-it/) [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) > [My sister Tala has twins, and they're wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-clooney/my-sister-tala-has-twins-and-they-re-wonderful/) [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) > [WikiLeaks' disclosures should be protected under the First Amendment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-clooney/wikileaks-disclosures-should-be-protected-under-the-first-amendment/) [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) > [I hate the idea that you somehow, as a human being, have to be put in a box. 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I believe it's important that you don't just turn the page without people being held to account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-clooney/i-believe-in-international-justice-i-believe-it-s-important-that-you/) [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) > [I think the international community should be ashamed that they haven't done more for the Yazidis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-clooney/i-think-the-international-community-should-be-ashamed-that-they-haven/) [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) > [I remember all the stages in my career where I almost didn't have enough confidence to try for something, almost didn't have the guts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-clooney/i-remember-all-the-stages-in-my-career-where-i-almost-didn-t-have/) [Amal Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) [Explore all 18 Amal Clooney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-clooney/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. 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