--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pity the nation that has to silence its…" description: "\"Pity the nation that has to silence its writers for speaking their minds.\" — Arundhati Roy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/arundhati-roy-346_minds_pity-the-nation-that-has-to-silence-its_1802882.png" --- # Pity the nation that has to silence its writers for… ![“Pity the nation that has to silence its writers for speaking their minds.” quote by Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/arundhati-roy-346_minds_pity-the-nation-that-has-to-silence-its_1802882.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/arundhati-roy-346_minds_pity-the-nation-that-has-to-silence-its_1802882.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/arundhati-roy-346_minds_pity-the-nation-that-has-to-silence-its_1802882.png) > “Pity the nation that has to silence its writers for speaking their minds.” [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Silencing writers harms a nation's freedom and truth. **In simple terms:** Free speech is essential for a healthy nation. Key Takeaway Defend free expression. Themes freedom of speech censorship democracy Mood critical passionate Type political philosophical When to use this quote - journalistic reporting - academic research - artistic creation - public debate Key Concepts political theory human rights Questions to Reflect On - Why is dissent vital? - How can societies protect writers? A Different Perspective Security concerns sometimes justify limited speech. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Pity the nation that has to silence its writers for speaking their minds. Pity the nation that needs to jail those who ask for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/pity-the-nation-that-has-to-silence-its-writers-for-speaking-their/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [When I'm there, it's pure silence. There are other writers there, too, and I get super competitive. I have this weird fear that some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-de-la-pena/when-i-m-there-it-s-pure-silence-there-are-other-writers-there-too/) [Matt de la Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-de-la-pena/) > [In the same way that Egypt and Libya conspired to 'disappear' my father and silence writers such as Idris Ali, they made me, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hisham-matar/in-the-same-way-that-egypt-and-libya-conspired-to-disappear-my-father/) [Hisham Matar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hisham-matar/) > [Pity the nation whose statesman is a fox, whose philosopher is a juggler, and whose art is the art of patching and mimicking. Pity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/pity-the-nation-whose-statesman-is-a-fox-whose-philosopher-is-a/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“Pity the nation whose people are sheep, and whose shepherds mislead them. Pity the nation whose leaders are liars, whose sages are silenced, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/pity-the-nation-whose-people-are-sheep-and-whose-shepherds-mislead/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [“Pity the nation that is full of beliefs and empty of religion. Pity the nation that wears a cloth it does not weave and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/pity-the-nation-that-is-full-of-beliefs-and-empty-of-religion-pity/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [I suffer the mortification of seeing myself attacked right and left by people at home professing patriotism and love of country who never heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-suffer-the-mortification-of-seeing-myself-attacked-right-and-left/) [Ulysses S. 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Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) Elizabeth Tambascio > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) ## More by Arundhati Roy > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Poverty is a crime and the poor are terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/poverty-is-a-crime-and-the-poor-are-terrorists/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Flat muscled and honey coloured. Sea secrets in his eyes. A silver raindrop in his ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/flat-muscled-and-honey-coloured-sea-secrets-in-his-eyes-a-silver/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Fiction and non-fiction are only different techniques of story telling. For reasons I do not fully understand, fiction dances out of me. Non-fiction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/fiction-and-non-fiction-are-only-different-techniques-of-story/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [NGOs have a complicated space in neoliberal politics. They are supposed to mop up the anger. Even when they are doing good work, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/ngos-have-a-complicated-space-in-neoliberal-politics-they-are/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I've never been that person who thought that because I've written one novel, I should write another and another. 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Only that there were tears. Only that Quietness and Emptiness fitted together like stacked spoons. Only that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/but-what-was-there-to-say-only-that-there-were-tears-only-that/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Truly, there's no alternative to stupidity. Cretinism is the mother of fascism. I have no defence against it, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/truly-there-s-no-alternative-to-stupidity-cretinism-is-the-mother-of/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-secret-of-the-great-stories-is-that-they-have-no-secrets-the/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“stilts, the ground floors given over to parking. It’s a good idea in this car-maddened city,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/stilts-the-ground-floors-given-over-to-parking-it-s-a-good-idea-in/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“Perhaps it’s true that things can change in a day. That a few dozen hours can affect the outcome of whole lifetimes. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/perhaps-it-s-true-that-things-can-change-in-a-day-that-a-few-dozen/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) [Explore all 628 Arundhati Roy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## More Minds quotes > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. 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You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-treacy/what-i-love-most-about-her-majesty-is-that-she-has-kept-hats-alive-in/) [Philip Treacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-treacy/) > [What bothers me about TV is that it tends to take our minds off our minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/what-bothers-me-about-tv-is-that-it-tends-to-take-our-minds-off-our/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [People who are right most of the time are people who change their minds often](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/people-who-are-right-most-of-the-time-are-people-who-change-their/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [“You can not have empty or neutral mind, as long as you work the mind will contain dreams, if you stop working it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-can-not-have-empty-or-neutral-mind-as-long-as-you-work-the-mind/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“they're fucking up minds they do not own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carroll/they-re-fucking-up-minds-they-do-not-own/) [jim carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carroll/) > [Bridge the gap with closed minds though careful dissection of ideas and solid presentation of fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/bridge-the-gap-with-closed-minds-though-careful-dissection-of-ideas/) [Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/) > [It would be a tragic mistake for us out here to imagine that Bush represents the hearts and the minds of the majority of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breyten-breytenbach/it-would-be-a-tragic-mistake-for-us-out-here-to-imagine-that-bush/) [Breyten Breytenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breyten-breytenbach/) > [In 'Self Comes to Mind' I pay a lot of attention to simple creatures without brains or minds, because those 'cartooned abstractions of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-damasio/in-self-comes-to-mind-i-pay-a-lot-of-attention-to-simple-creatures/) [Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-damasio/) > [“Creativity means bringing simplicity to the existing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/creativity-means-bringing-simplicity-to-the-existing/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Our Heavenly Father is far more merciful, infinitely more charitable, than even the best of his servants, and the Everlasting Gospel is mightier in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-f-whitney/our-heavenly-father-is-far-more-merciful-infinitely-more-charitable/) [Orson F. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-f-whitney/) > [I mean, the thing with Simple Minds is that there's many Simple Minds within Simple Minds. There was definitely an electronic art-rock phase; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-kerr/i-mean-the-thing-with-simple-minds-is-that-there-s-many-simple-minds/) [Jim Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-kerr/) > [Wars begin in the minds of men, and in those minds, love and compassion would have built the defenses of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u-thant/wars-begin-in-the-minds-of-men-and-in-those-minds-love-and-compassion/) [U Thant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u-thant/) > [Attempts to defend amusement parks and circuses on the grounds that they 'educate' people about animals should not be taken seriously. 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