--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have a right to know or may lawfully…" description: "\"We have a right to know or may lawfully know any truth. And a right to know any truth whatsoever implies a right to think freely.\" — Anthony Collins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/anthony-collins-46746_atheism_we-have-a-right-to-know-or-may-lawfully_2209735.png" --- # We have a right to know or may lawfully know any truth… ![“We have a right to know or may lawfully know any truth. And a right to know any truth whatsoever implies a right to think freely.” quote by Anthony Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/anthony-collins-46746_atheism_we-have-a-right-to-know-or-may-lawfully_2209735.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/anthony-collins-46746_atheism_we-have-a-right-to-know-or-may-lawfully_2209735.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/anthony-collins-46746_atheism_we-have-a-right-to-know-or-may-lawfully_2209735.png) > “We have a right to know or may lawfully know any truth. And a right to know any truth whatsoever implies a right to think freely.” [Anthony Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowing truth is essential for free thought; without access to facts, liberty is compromised. **In simple terms:** Truth enables free thinking. Key Takeaway Protect access to information. Themes freedom knowledge rights Mood thoughtious determined Type ethical political When to use this quote - journalism - education - public policy - personal decision making Key Concepts philosophy political theory Questions to Reflect On - How do we ensure truth is reliable? - What safeguards protect free thought? A Different Perspective Truth can be contested or manipulated, limiting its usefulness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Know Lawfully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-lawfully-4887999/) [Know Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-truth/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lawfully Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawfully-know-4887998/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-right-341763/) [Truth Whatsoever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-whatsoever-4888000/) ## Related quotes > [A man must be able to affirm, I know for certain, that what I teach is the only Word of the high Majesty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/a-man-must-be-able-to-affirm-i-know-for-certain-that-what-i-teach-is/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [I, Master John Hus, in chains and in prison, now standing on the shore of this present life and expecting on the morrow a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-hus/i-master-john-hus-in-chains-and-in-prison-now-standing-on-the-shore/) [Jan Hus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-hus/) > [You know the truth... its right in her eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chetan-narasimha/you-know-the-truth-its-right-in-her-eyes/) [Chetan Narasimha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chetan-narasimha/) > [“Ego is about who’s right. Truth is about what’s right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/ego-is-about-who-s-right-truth-is-about-what-s-right/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [The people have a right to the truth as they have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-people-have-a-right-to-the-truth-as-they-have-a-right-to-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Truth right there! :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen/truth-right-there/) [Ellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen/) > [If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-cannot-find-the-truth-right-where-you-are-where-else-do-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Fear is a liar and the truth is right in front of me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-aleo/fear-is-a-liar-and-the-truth-is-right-in-front-of-me/) [Toni Aleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-aleo/) > [It's a classic album. If it ain't better than 'The Truth,' it's right there with it. I wouldn't say it if I ain't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beanie-sigel/it-s-a-classic-album-if-it-ain-t-better-than-the-truth-it-s-right/) [Beanie Sigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beanie-sigel/) > [“I trust my inner sense of the truth. I am right with God because I am right with myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-trust-my-inner-sense-of-the-truth-i-am-right-with-god-because-i-am/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always speak the truth, so that you get the right advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/always-speak-the-truth-so-that-you-get-the-right-advice/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [There is no place to search for the truth. Though it's right beneath your feet, it can't be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daido-loori/there-is-no-place-to-search-for-the-truth-though-it-s-right-beneath/) [John Daido Loori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daido-loori/) > [“The truth, in the right hands, can be a very flexible tool.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-boutros/the-truth-in-the-right-hands-can-be-a-very-flexible-tool/) [Gabriel Boutros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-boutros/) > [Truth and right are above utility in all realms of thought and action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-william-eliot/truth-and-right-are-above-utility-in-all-realms-of-thought-and-action/) [Charles William Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-william-eliot/) > [“If you are unable to find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/if-you-are-unable-to-find-the-truth-right-where-you-are-where-else-do/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) ## More by Anthony Collins > [Believe it, my good friend, to love truth for truth's sake is the principal part of human perfection in the world, and the seed-plot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-collins/believe-it-my-good-friend-to-love-truth-for-truth-s-sake-is-the/) [Anthony Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-collins/) > [“The Use of the Understanding, in endeavouring to find out the Meaning of any Proposition whatsoever, in considering the nature and Evidence for or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-collins/the-use-of-the-understanding-in-endeavouring-to-find-out-the-meaning/) [Anthony Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-collins/) > [It is not enough to render things equal to the will, that they are equal or alike in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-collins/it-is-not-enough-to-render-things-equal-to-the-will-that-they-are/) [Anthony Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-collins/) > [By freethinking I mean the use of the understanding in endeavoring to find out the meaning of any proposition whatsoever, in considering the nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-collins/by-freethinking-i-mean-the-use-of-the-understanding-in-endeavoring-to/) [Anthony Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-collins/) > [I am obliged to believe certain opinions myself. No man's belief will save me except my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-collins/i-am-obliged-to-believe-certain-opinions-myself-no-man-s-belief-will/) [Anthony Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-collins/) > [Apologys for self-evident Truths can never have any effect on those who have so little Sense as to deny them. 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When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. 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