---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never be silent! Make your opinions…"
description: "\"Never be silent! Make your opinions known, and do not fear retribution for speaking your mind! The only ones who will aggressively try to silence you a..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/403/derek-r-audette-13963_communication_never-be-silent-make-your-opinions-known_1629177.jpg"
---

#  Never be silent! Make your opinions known, and do not fear…

![“Never be silent! Make your opinions known, and do not fear retribution for speaking your mind! The only ones who will aggressively try to silence you are the ones who do not respect the liberties and rights of the individual. Those people deserve our contempt, and when you draw them out of the…” quote by Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/403/derek-r-audette-13963_communication_never-be-silent-make-your-opinions-known_1629177.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/403/derek-r-audette-13963_communication_never-be-silent-make-your-opinions-known_1629177.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/403/derek-r-audette-13963_communication_never-be-silent-make-your-opinions-known_1629177.jpg)

> “Never be silent! Make your opinions known, and do not fear retribution for speaking your mind! The only ones who will aggressively try to silence you are the ones who do not respect the liberties and rights of the individual. Those people deserve our contempt, and when you draw them out of the shadows by exercising your civil right to freedom of speech, they will expose themselves for what they truly are.”

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Silencing dissent is a tactic of those who fear individual liberty; speaking out exposes their true motives and protects rights.

**In simple terms:** Speak up to protect free speech.

Key Takeaway

Raise your voice against oppression.

Themes

politics rights activism

Mood

determined defiant

Type

motivational political

When to use this quote

- protests
- public forums
- online debate
- community meetings

Key Concepts

censorship civil liberties

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we protect speakers from retaliation?
- What responsibilities accompany free speech?

A Different Perspective

Oppressive forces may use intimidation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Freedom of speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-speech/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Retribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retribution/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Speaking your mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking-your-mind/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/)

## Related quotes

> [If you can't manage courtesy, try silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/if-you-can-t-manage-courtesy-try-silence/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [They think because they have put my husband on an island that he will be forgotten. They are wrong. The harder they try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-madikizela-mandela/they-think-because-they-have-put-my-husband-on-an-island-that-he-will/)

[Winnie Madikizela-Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-madikizela-mandela/)

> [“Don’t try to silence other people’s genius because you’re too deaf to hear your own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/don-t-try-to-silence-other-people-s-genius-because-you-re-too-deaf-to/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“Your voice is powerful. Your voice has meaning. If it didn’t, people wouldn’t work so hard to try to silence you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/your-voice-is-powerful-your-voice-has-meaning-if-it-didn-t-people/)

[Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/)

> [Good is towing the line, being behaved, being quiet, being passive, fitting in, being liked, and great is being messy, having a belly, speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/good-is-towing-the-line-being-behaved-being-quiet-being-passive/)

[Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/)

> [“why talk and say the unsaid words in haste when silence can speak the unspoken words?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/why-talk-and-say-the-unsaid-words-in-haste-when-silence-can-speak-the/)

[Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/)

> [“When you give yourself permission to communicate what matters to you in every situation you will have peace despite rejection or disapproval. Putting a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/when-you-give-yourself-permission-to-communicate-what-matters-to-you/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [“Name your intention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-digh/name-your-intention/)

[Patti Digh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-digh/)

> [“To say nothing is saying something. You must denounce things you are against or one might believe that you support things you really do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/to-say-nothing-is-saying-something-you-must-denounce-things-you-are/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [“Each time you open your mouth you inform others of your state of mind and the condition of your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/each-time-you-open-your-mouth-you-inform-others-of-your-state-of-mind/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [And every time, you notice me by. Holding me closely and saying sweet things. I don't believe, that it could be. You speaking your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colbie-caillat/and-every-time-you-notice-me-by-holding-me-closely-and-saying-sweet/)

[Colbie Caillat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colbie-caillat/)

> [“DON'T FORGET YOUR WORDS WHILE SPEAKING IT”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-tisa/don-t-forget-your-words-while-speaking-it/)

J. Tisa

> [“Speak God’s Mind Hear, for I will speak excellent and princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for right things. PROVERBS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/speak-god-s-mind-hear-for-i-will-speak-excellent-and-princely-things/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [My mom. Growing up with her, she always taught us to say whatever. Like, 'You think something, say it. Don't bite your tongue for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/draymond-green/my-mom-growing-up-with-her-she-always-taught-us-to-say-whatever-like/)

[Draymond Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/draymond-green/)

> [“ALways be careful what you say. You can always say you're sorry, but you can never take back what you said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-b-newman/always-be-careful-what-you-say-you-can-always-say-you-re-sorry-but/)

F.B. Newman

## More by Derek R. Audette

> [Sanity can take one of only two forms: that of ignorance, or denial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/sanity-can-take-one-of-only-two-forms-that-of-ignorance-or-denial/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [If you're going to condemn a people based on the actions of the worst of its ranks; take a good look at the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/if-you-re-going-to-condemn-a-people-based-on-the-actions-of-the-worst/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [No matter how substandard you feel your skill or talent may be, If you never produce your art, the world will always remain deprived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/no-matter-how-substandard-you-feel-your-skill-or-talent-may-be-if-you/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [There has got to be a point that exists somewhere, when a rational person just has to shake his head and say: 'You know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/there-has-got-to-be-a-point-that-exists-somewhere-when-a-rational/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [Abstraction is an exercise in a pre-assured failure. It is a futile attempt to communicate the non-communicable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/abstraction-is-an-exercise-in-a-pre-assured-failure-it-is-a-futile/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [Thoughts, words, ideas and information, free from any bonds or restrictions, is the very concrete which pours out a foundation strong enough that upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/thoughts-words-ideas-and-information-free-from-any-bonds-or/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [The question is not whether the good outweighs the bad. The question is whether or not the good excuses the bad. And, in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/the-question-is-not-whether-the-good-outweighs-the-bad-the-question/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [Without compassion, true gratitude is an impossibility. If we are to feel gratitude towards another for their deeds, then we must have compassion for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/without-compassion-true-gratitude-is-an-impossibility-if-we-are-to/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [Gratitude free of compassion is selfishness. It is nothing more than being happy for what has been done to benefit you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/gratitude-free-of-compassion-is-selfishness-it-is-nothing-more-than/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [One of the most distinguishing differences between liberals and conservatives in America is that the average Liberal feels that we should have little reservation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/one-of-the-most-distinguishing-differences-between-liberals-and/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [In a world where God does not exist, any reasonable person must see that the propensity toward selfishness should be the most venerated of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/in-a-world-where-god-does-not-exist-any-reasonable-person-must-see/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [Those who are offended by something are most often those who deserve to be offended by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/those-who-are-offended-by-something-are-most-often-those-who-deserve/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [If you want to know what true art is: Go outside on a clear night, wait until it gets very, very dark, then look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/if-you-want-to-know-what-true-art-is-go-outside-on-a-clear-night-wait/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [The nobility which exists within any cause is to be found not in any achievement, but instead within the struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/the-nobility-which-exists-within-any-cause-is-to-be-found-not-in-any/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [The universal methodology of the tyrant is always incrementalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/the-universal-methodology-of-the-tyrant-is-always-incrementalism/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

[Explore all 48 Derek R. Audette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

## More Communication quotes

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/)

[John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/)

> [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/)

[Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/)

> [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/)

[Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/)

> [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/)

[Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/)

> [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/)

[Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/)

> [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/)

[Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/)

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/)

[Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/)

> [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/)

[Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/)

> [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/)

[Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/)

> [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/)

Yoram Wind

> [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

[Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Never be silent! Make your opinions known, and do not fear retribution for speaking your mind! The only ones who will aggressively try to silence you are the ones who do not respect the liberties and rights of the individual. Those people deserve our contempt, and when you draw them out of the shadows by exercising your civil right to freedom of speech, they will expose themselves for what they truly are.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Derek R. Audette"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/never-be-silent-make-your-opinions-known-and-do-not-fear-retribution/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Communication"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/never-be-silent-make-your-opinions-known-and-do-not-fear-retribution/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/403/derek-r-audette-13963_communication_never-be-silent-make-your-opinions-known_1629177.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/403/derek-r-audette-13963_communication_never-be-silent-make-your-opinions-known_1629177.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/403/derek-r-audette-13963_communication_never-be-silent-make-your-opinions-known_1629177.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Never be silent! Make your opinions known, and do not fear retribution for speaking your mind! The only ones…” — Derek R. Audette",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Derek R. Audette",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Never be silent! Make your opinions...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/never-be-silent-make-your-opinions-known-and-do-not-fear-retribution/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/never-be-silent-make-your-opinions-known-and-do-not-fear-retribution/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
