--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think that there is absolute…" description: "\"I don't think that there is absolute freedom of the press. We operate under laws - against libel, for instance. The idea that there is some absolute pr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/bill-keller-13202_absolute_i-don-t-think-that-there-is-absolute-fre_1187296.jpg" --- # I don't think that there is absolute freedom of the press… ![“I don't think that there is absolute freedom of the press. We operate under laws - against libel, for instance. The idea that there is some absolute press freedom is kind of a myth.” quote by Bill Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/bill-keller-13202_absolute_i-don-t-think-that-there-is-absolute-fre_1187296.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/bill-keller-13202_absolute_i-don-t-think-that-there-is-absolute-fre_1187296.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/bill-keller-13202_absolute_i-don-t-think-that-there-is-absolute-fre_1187296.jpg) > “I don't think that there is absolute freedom of the press. We operate under laws - against libel, for instance. The idea that there is some absolute press freedom is kind of a myth.” [Bill Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-keller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Press freedom is constrained by laws like libel; the notion of total freedom is a myth. **In simple terms:** Press freedom is limited by law. Key Takeaway Recognize legal boundaries when exercising press rights. Themes law media myth Mood critical realistic Type journalistic analytical When to use this quote - journalism - public relations - political reporting - media ethics Key Concepts first amendment libel law Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities come with press freedom? - How should journalists navigate libel risks? A Different Perspective Legal limits can suppress legitimate critique. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute/) [Absolute freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-freedom/) [Against](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/against/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom of the press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-the-press/) [Freedom Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-press/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Instance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instance/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Laws Libel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-libel-3507370/) [Libel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libel/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Operate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/operate/) [Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/press/) [Press Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/press-freedom/) [Some](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/some/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) ## Related quotes > [Freedom of press and freedom of speech: What a blessing for a country while in the hands of honest, patriotic men; what a curse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-h-boetcker/freedom-of-press-and-freedom-of-speech-what-a-blessing-for-a-country/) [William J. H. Boetcker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-h-boetcker/) > [“Freedom of the press is the freedom of 200 rich people to spread their opinions. Pressefreiheit ist die Freiheit von zweihundert reichen Leuten, ihre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-sethe/freedom-of-the-press-is-the-freedom-of-200-rich-people-to-spread/) [Paul Sethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-sethe/) > [Freedom of the press is perhaps the freedom that has suffered the most from the gradual degradation of the idea of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/freedom-of-the-press-is-perhaps-the-freedom-that-has-suffered-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“do not believe this was the result our forefathers envisioned when they fought so hard to establish freedom of the press. Such freedom should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-carson/do-not-believe-this-was-the-result-our-forefathers-envisioned-when/) [Ben Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-carson/) > [Absolute freedom of the press to discuss public questions is a foundation stone of American liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/absolute-freedom-of-the-press-to-discuss-public-questions-is-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [There is no such thing as absolute freedom of the press, not even in the most advanced countries in the world. There are things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-freedom-of-the-press-not-even-in/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [We don't have an Official Secrets Act in the United States, as other countries do. Under the First Amendment, freedom of the press, freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/we-don-t-have-an-official-secrets-act-in-the-united-states-as-other/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [To-day a democrat of the old school would demand, not freedom for the press, but freedom from the press; but mean-time the leaders have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-spengler/to-day-a-democrat-of-the-old-school-would-demand-not-freedom-for-the/) [Oswald Spengler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-spengler/) > [“Liberalism is a creation of the seventeenth century, fathered by British philosopher John Locke (1632–1704). For Locke, liberalism means limited government, the rule of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-boghossian/liberalism-is-a-creation-of-the-seventeenth-century-fathered-by/) [Peter Boghossian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-boghossian/) > [“The Press will not be free to tell lies. That is not freedom for the people, but a tyranny over their minds and souls.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-mosley/the-press-will-not-be-free-to-tell-lies-that-is-not-freedom-for-the/) [Oswald Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-mosley/) > [“Jefferson's ambivalence toward the French Revolution matters. As a key founder of the American republic, he bridges the moderate and radical Enlightenments. He tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-r-holmes/jefferson-s-ambivalence-toward-the-french-revolution-matters-as-a-key/) [Kim R. Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-r-holmes/) > [Our duty as journalists is to use our clarity - and our imagination - to build hope in the societies in which we work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/our-duty-as-journalists-is-to-use-our-clarity-and-our-imagination-to/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [Though not really a comedy, 'Rosewater' is a demonstration of the creed behind 'The Daily Show': belief in the crucial need for impious wit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-corliss/though-not-really-a-comedy-rosewater-is-a-demonstration-of-the-creed/) [Richard Corliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-corliss/) > [Press freedom has great virtues. It is not about irresponsible scandal-mongering, although that may be part of the picture. It is a means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/press-freedom-has-great-virtues-it-is-not-about-irresponsible-scandal/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [To deal with COVID-19, countries like India, Brazil, Jordan and Thailand are cutting press freedom and freedom of expression. In nations like Israel, South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/to-deal-with-covid-19-countries-like-india-brazil-jordan-and-thailand/) [Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/) ## More by Bill Keller > [It's a considerable source of tragedy in the world that people stay in powerful jobs long past the point where they're a spent force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-keller/it-s-a-considerable-source-of-tragedy-in-the-world-that-people-stay/) [Bill Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-keller/) > [If a candidate for president said he believed that space aliens dwell among us, would that affect your willingness to vote for him? 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They don't teach you that you're going to have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-keller/there-s-a-lot-of-stuff-they-don-t-teach-you-in-the-mythical-editors/) [Bill Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-keller/) > [The Democrats generally recoil from the subject of entitlements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-keller/the-democrats-generally-recoil-from-the-subject-of-entitlements/) [Bill Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-keller/) > [Maybe we're all a little too desperate these days for a simple formula to explain how our safe world came unhinged. That, as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-keller/maybe-we-re-all-a-little-too-desperate-these-days-for-a-simple/) [Bill Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-keller/) > [There is a long history of newspapers being doomed. They were doomed by radio. They were doomed by television. They were probably doomed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-keller/there-is-a-long-history-of-newspapers-being-doomed-they-were-doomed/) [Bill Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-keller/) [Explore all 51 Bill Keller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-keller/) ## More Absolute quotes > [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Absolute is a game with only one player where Absolute forgets itself so it would have a reason to fulfill the motion while returning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/absolute-is-a-game-with-only-one-player-where-absolute-forgets-itself/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“The necessity of nothingness does not create anything. The real value and meaning of the Being are not in its necessity but in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/the-necessity-of-nothingness-does-not-create-anything-the-real-value/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I can like something. You can like something. It's not an absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/i-can-like-something-you-can-like-something-it-s-not-an-absolute/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/nothing-is-absolute-everything-changes-everything-moves-everything/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [I - it's simply not for me to evaluate an independent rating agency's processes. But I will say that there was reason to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/i-it-s-simply-not-for-me-to-evaluate-an-independent-rating-agency-s/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [Absolute morality is the regulation of conduct in such a way that pain shall not be inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/absolute-morality-is-the-regulation-of-conduct-in-such-a-way-that/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [What is liberty? There is no such thing as absolute liberty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/what-is-liberty-there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-liberty/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Doing the right thing at all costs is an absolute, and only a sith deals in absolutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/doing-the-right-thing-at-all-costs-is-an-absolute-and-only-a-sith/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [“Energy is the world-born phenomenon, the world that puts itself in motion and flies into space by receiving space into itself. From this point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/energy-is-the-world-born-phenomenon-the-world-that-puts-itself-in/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“As we see it, space is possible only when the primordial Being swallows emptiness. 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It can tell you it's okay to drop bombs on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-denton/absolute-faith-can-blind-you-to-the-consequences-of-the-actions-you/) [Andrew Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-denton/) > [“Zero is a gateway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/zero-is-a-gateway/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Absolute perfection is here and now, not in some future, near or far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/absolute-perfection-is-here-and-now-not-in-some-future-near-or-far/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) [Browse all 631 Absolute quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think that there is absolute freedom of the press. We operate under laws - against libel, for instance. 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