--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The right to free speech is critical to…" description: "\"The right to free speech is critical to our democracy.\" — Amy Klobuchar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/amy-klobuchar-2837_communication_the-right-to-free-speech-is-critical-to_1390542.jpg" --- # The right to free speech is critical to our democracy. ![“The right to free speech is critical to our democracy.” quote by Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/amy-klobuchar-2837_communication_the-right-to-free-speech-is-critical-to_1390542.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/amy-klobuchar-2837_communication_the-right-to-free-speech-is-critical-to_1390542.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/amy-klobuchar-2837_communication_the-right-to-free-speech-is-critical-to_1390542.jpg) > “The right to free speech is critical to our democracy.” [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) ## 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 safeguards democratic dialogue and accountability. **In simple terms:** Free speech protects democracy. Key Takeaway Uphold open discourse. Themes democracy free speech rights Mood serious concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - public debates - media - activism - education Key Concepts political theory civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - How to balance speech with harm prevention? - What role does free speech play in your community? A Different Perspective Speech can be weaponized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Free speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-speech/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) ## Related quotes > [I have always been of the opinion that the right kind of journalism is a critical part of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/i-have-always-been-of-the-opinion-that-the-right-kind-of-journalism/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [The greatest risk in giving our government any power to control our speech is that it would then have a vehicle to prohibit speech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-timpf/the-greatest-risk-in-giving-our-government-any-power-to-control-our/) [Kat Timpf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-timpf/) > [And, I hope now that everybody understands that the Labour Party - as it always has done - stands for free speech and individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-davies/and-i-hope-now-that-everybody-understands-that-the-labour-party-as-it/) [Ron Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-davies/) > [Money is speech. It's incongruous to say a multimillionaire can spend as much on his own campaign as he wants, but you can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/money-is-speech-it-s-incongruous-to-say-a-multimillionaire-can-spend/) [Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/) > [Trump loves free speech only when he or his supporters are speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or-his-supporters-are-speaking/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [I have no problem with free speech, but free speech and then silencing your opposition - boy, I have a problem with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-lahren/i-have-no-problem-with-free-speech-but-free-speech-and-then-silencing/) [Tomi Lahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-lahren/) > [“You have the right to free speech. We, the corporate controlled government, have the right to ignore you and we choose to exercise this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/you-have-the-right-to-free-speech-we-the-corporate-controlled/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > ['Free speech' isn't speech at all if it's being used without listening, attention, or care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-morton/free-speech-isn-t-speech-at-all-if-it-s-being-used-without-listening/) [Timothy Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-morton/) > [Free speech has a very small constituency on the modern campus, particularly if the speaker under attack is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leo/free-speech-has-a-very-small-constituency-on-the-modern-campus/) [John Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leo/) > [“On the one hand, freedom of speech guarantees a lack of freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/on-the-one-hand-freedom-of-speech-guarantees-a-lack-of-freedom/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. 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Barack Obama's election reshapes America's political landscape and wipes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/the-2008-presidential-election-was-a-triumph-of-hope-and-unity-over/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [I look at this in a very simple way: I want to bring the debt down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/i-look-at-this-in-a-very-simple-way-i-want-to-bring-the-debt-down/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [As you are well aware Russia is actively working to undermine our democracy and hurt American businesses at the same time. Now more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/as-you-are-well-aware-russia-is-actively-working-to-undermine-our/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [As a prosecutor and a senator, one of my main criminal justice priorities has been enforcing and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/as-a-prosecutor-and-a-senator-one-of-my-main-criminal-justice/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [When I was a prosecutor, we had one straightforward goal: convict the guilty and protect the innocent. To me, that simple mission still holds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/when-i-was-a-prosecutor-we-had-one-straightforward-goal-convict-the/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [In any job, you can come under attack or have a door slammed in your face. You do want to listen to critics; you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/in-any-job-you-can-come-under-attack-or-have-a-door-slammed-in-your/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [There must always be a balance between protecting privacy and security. In our country, one of the ways we have struck that balance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/there-must-always-be-a-balance-between-protecting-privacy-and/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [Before we even consider expanding Medicare, or another program based on its rates, we must reform our Medicare payment system so that it rewards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/before-we-even-consider-expanding-medicare-or-another-program-based/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [The death of Fidel Castro, of course, is not as significant when you first look at it, because Raul Castro, his brother, has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/the-death-of-fidel-castro-of-course-is-not-as-significant-when-you/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [A bridge shouldn't just fall down in the middle of America. Not a bridge that's a few blocks from my house. Not an eight-lane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/a-bridge-shouldn-t-just-fall-down-in-the-middle-of-america-not-a/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [I will not vote in favor of Senator Sessions' nomination for attorney general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/i-will-not-vote-in-favor-of-senator-sessions-nomination-for-attorney/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [My best friends are women in the Senate, but much like Senator Obama, I ran on a platform of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/my-best-friends-are-women-in-the-senate-but-much-like-senator-obama-i/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) [Explore all 148 Amy Klobuchar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. 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. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/) [Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/) [Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? 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No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) [Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The right to free speech is critical to our democracy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Amy Klobuchar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/the-right-to-free-speech-is-critical-to-our-democracy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Communication" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/the-right-to-free-speech-is-critical-to-our-democracy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/amy-klobuchar-2837_communication_the-right-to-free-speech-is-critical-to_1390542.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/amy-klobuchar-2837_communication_the-right-to-free-speech-is-critical-to_1390542.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/amy-klobuchar-2837_communication_the-right-to-free-speech-is-critical-to_1390542.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The right to free speech is critical to our democracy.” — Amy Klobuchar", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Amy Klobuchar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The right to free speech is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/the-right-to-free-speech-is-critical-to-our-democracy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/the-right-to-free-speech-is-critical-to-our-democracy/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```