--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always thought the most patriotic…" description: "\"I've always thought the most patriotic thing you could do in a democracy is to speak the truth as you see it. And that's what we're supposed to be abou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/barbara-boxer-4675_america_i-ve-always-thought-the-most-patriotic-t_791780.jpg" --- # I've always thought the most patriotic thing you could do… ![“I've always thought the most patriotic thing you could do in a democracy is to speak the truth as you see it. And that's what we're supposed to be about in America. Freedom of speech.” quote by Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/barbara-boxer-4675_america_i-ve-always-thought-the-most-patriotic-t_791780.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/barbara-boxer-4675_america_i-ve-always-thought-the-most-patriotic-t_791780.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/barbara-boxer-4675_america_i-ve-always-thought-the-most-patriotic-t_791780.jpg) > “I've always thought the most patriotic thing you could do in a democracy is to speak the truth as you see it. And that's what we're supposed to be about in America. Freedom of speech.” [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speaking truth in a democracy upholds patriotism and protects freedom of speech. **In simple terms:** Truth is patriotic. Key Takeaway Speak honestly. Themes patriotism free speech democracy integrity Mood cautious hopeful Type political motivational When to use this quote - political discourse - media reporting - public debate Key Concepts civic duty ethical communication Questions to Reflect On - When have you faced consequences for honesty? - How can truth be protected in polarized climates? A Different Perspective Truth may be unpopular and risk backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-freedom/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom of speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-speech/) [Most patriotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most-patriotic/) [Patriotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotic/) [Speak the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-the-truth/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s not unpatriotic to denounce an injustice committed on our behalf, perhaps it’s the most patriotic thing we can do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-unpatriotic-to-denounce-an-injustice-committed-on-our-behalf/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With the Michael Moore movie, certain conservative talk show hosts call him un-American. Him and anybody else who says anything about the war... To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/with-the-michael-moore-movie-certain-conservative-talk-show-hosts/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [The most patriotic thing you can do is to take care of the environment and try to live sustainably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy-jr/the-most-patriotic-thing-you-can-do-is-to-take-care-of-the/) [Robert F. Kennedy, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy-jr/) > [Listen, the environmental movement is not about protecting the fishes and the birds so much as recognizing that nature is the infrastructure of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy-jr/listen-the-environmental-movement-is-not-about-protecting-the-fishes/) [Robert F. Kennedy, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy-jr/) > [At least in America, you have freedom of speech, which is a good thing. It's just a question of whether you're allowed to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/at-least-in-america-you-have-freedom-of-speech-which-is-a-good-thing/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Our spirit is back, but we haven't reinstitutionalized it. We've got to do a better job of getting across that America is freedom -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/our-spirit-is-back-but-we-haven-t-reinstitutionalized-it-we-ve-got-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A man is entitled to say whatever he wants to say. It's America, freedom of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-evans/a-man-is-entitled-to-say-whatever-he-wants-to-say-it-s-america/) Reggie Evans > [If you say, I'm living in America and I have freedom of speech but I choose not to use it because it's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/if-you-say-i-m-living-in-america-and-i-have-freedom-of-speech-but-i/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [Our spirit is back, but we haven't reinstitutional ized it. We've got to do a better job of getting across that America is freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/our-spirit-is-back-but-we-haven-t-reinstitutional-ized-it-we-ve-got/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“That’s the miracle of America. Freedom to believe means the freedom to believe the wrong thing, after all. Just as freedom of speech gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/that-s-the-miracle-of-america-freedom-to-believe-means-the-freedom-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I do think the patriotic thing to do is to critique my country. How else do you make a country better but by pointing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-do-think-the-patriotic-thing-to-do-is-to-critique-my-country-how/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I've stood for the national anthem ever since grade school. It's a patriotic thing for me. I understand what Colin Kaepernick and others are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/i-ve-stood-for-the-national-anthem-ever-since-grade-school-it-s-a/) [Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/) > [I realize the most patriotic thing I could do is resist Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/i-realize-the-most-patriotic-thing-i-could-do-is-resist-donald-trump/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [Ev'ry heart beats true 'neath the Red, White and Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-m-cohan/ev-ry-heart-beats-true-neath-the-red-white-and-blue/) [George M. Cohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-m-cohan/) > [There is absolutely nothing in the Mormon's religion inconsistent with the most patriotic devotion to the government of the United States. Revelation and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilford-woodruff/there-is-absolutely-nothing-in-the-mormon-s-religion-inconsistent/) [Wilford Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilford-woodruff/) ## More by Barbara Boxer > [In the early stages of a pregnancy, the Government cannot intervene with a woman's right to choose. That is it, plain and simple. Guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/in-the-early-stages-of-a-pregnancy-the-government-cannot-intervene/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [There are many faces to war. There is the face of courage, of bravery, of fellowship.There is the face of fear. Above all, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/there-are-many-faces-to-war-there-is-the-face-of-courage-of-bravery/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [Iraq made commitments after the Gulf War to completely dismantle all weapons of mass destruction, and unfortunately, Iraq has not lived up to its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/iraq-made-commitments-after-the-gulf-war-to-completely-dismantle-all/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [I think Democrats are right. We fight for the American dream, for the environment, for privacy rights, a woman's right to choose, a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/i-think-democrats-are-right-we-fight-for-the-american-dream-for-the/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [Some people play golf. Some are artists, Some jog. 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If it's anti-Semitic, it's anti-Semitic. If it's anti-women, it's anti-women. If it's anti-immigrant, it's anti-immigrant, and we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/if-it-s-racist-it-s-racist-if-it-s-anti-semitic-it-s-anti-semitic-if/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [The combined efforts of millions of concerned citizens could do wonders to help the impoverished. The American people are ready for action!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/the-combined-efforts-of-millions-of-concerned-citizens-could-do/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [If something is opinion, put it in the opinion section: Don't put it in the facts section.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/if-something-is-opinion-put-it-in-the-opinion-section-don-t-put-it-in/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [If I can make a generalization, men get into politics because, from the time they're little boys, they've been wanting to be President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/if-i-can-make-a-generalization-men-get-into-politics-because-from-the/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [Iraq was a war of choice, not necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/iraq-was-a-war-of-choice-not-necessity/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [The point is that what we want, Democrats, and what we've always wanted, is to make abortion safe, legal, and rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/the-point-is-that-what-we-want-democrats-and-what-we-ve-always-wanted/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [Even if I have to stand alone, I will not be afraid to stand alone. I'm going to fight for you. I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/even-if-i-have-to-stand-alone-i-will-not-be-afraid-to-stand-alone-i-m/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) [Explore all 107 Barbara Boxer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? 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