Communicate Quote by Charles James Fox
“Opinions become dangerous to a state only when persecution makes it necessary for the people to communicate their ideas under the bond of secrecy.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Parliamentary debate, 1790s, Britain
When dissent is suppressed, secrecy becomes necessary, making opinions dangerous for the state.
In simple terms: Secrecy makes dissent risky.
Key Takeaway
Protect free expression.
Themes
politics
freedom
secrecy
state power
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
political
warning
When to use this quote
- authoritarian regimes
- whistleblowing
- online anonymity
- activism
- journalism
Key Concepts
censorship
civil liberty
public discourse
Questions to Reflect On
- How does secrecy affect truth?
- What protects dissent?
A Different Perspective
Even secret speech can be monitored, limiting its safety.
![“The question now was...whether that beautiful fabric [the English constitution]...was to be maintained in that freedom...for which blood had been spilt; or whether we were to submit to that system of despotism, which had so many advocates in this country.” quote by Charles James Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/07d/charles-james-fox-24224_beautiful_the-question-now-was-whether-that-beauti_880291.jpg)
