--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing that counts is the right…" description: "\"The only thing that counts is the right to know, to speak, to think - that, and the sanctity of the courts. Otherwise it's not America.\" — Edward R. Mu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/edward-r-murrow-7369_america_the-only-thing-that-counts-is-the-right_2796437.jpg" --- # The only thing that counts is the right to know, to speak… ![“The only thing that counts is the right to know, to speak, to think - that, and the sanctity of the courts. Otherwise it's not America.” quote by Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/edward-r-murrow-7369_america_the-only-thing-that-counts-is-the-right_2796437.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/edward-r-murrow-7369_america_the-only-thing-that-counts-is-the-right_2796437.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/edward-r-murrow-7369_america_the-only-thing-that-counts-is-the-right_2796437.jpg) > “The only thing that counts is the right to know, to speak, to think - that, and the sanctity of the courts. Otherwise it's not America.” [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom of information and expression are essential to American identity; without them, the nation loses its core values. **In simple terms:** Freedom of speech defines America. Key Takeaway Protect and exercise free speech. Themes democracy rights justice Mood reflective serious Type political ethical When to use this quote - journalism - political activism - courtroom proceedings Key Concepts civil liberties public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance free speech with security? - What role do courts play in protecting rights? A Different Perspective Rights can be limited by security concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Sanctity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctity/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Courts in America seem to be so political, and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/courts-in-america-seem-to-be-so-political-and-it-would-be-so-great/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [\*Posts quote\* That counts right? :D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojoo/posts-quote-that-counts-right-d/) Jojoo > [Hope doesn't mean anything. ... Action's the only thing that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hope-doesn-t-mean-anything-action-s-the-only-thing-that-counts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the end... love is the only thing that counts. It's stronger than death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-end-love-is-the-only-thing-that-counts-it-s-stronger-than-death/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (v. 6).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/the-only-thing-that-counts-is-faith-expressing-itself-through-love-v-6/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [The only thing that counts is your dedication to the game. You run on your own fuel; it comes from within you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brown/the-only-thing-that-counts-is-your-dedication-to-the-game-you-run-on/) [Paul Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brown/) > [In art there is only one thing that counts: the bit that cannot be explained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-braque/in-art-there-is-only-one-thing-that-counts-the-bit-that-cannot-be/) [Georges Braque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-braque/) > [You do your best, you do all this stuff, but the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-grant/you-do-your-best-you-do-all-this-stuff-but-the-only-thing-that-counts/) [Amy Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-grant/) > [“That's the good thing about it. Nothing counts except what's goin' on around you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-davis/that-s-the-good-thing-about-it-nothing-counts-except-what-s-goin-on/) H.L. Davis > [The only thing that counts is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcos-alonso/the-only-thing-that-counts-is-hard-work/) [Marcos Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcos-alonso/) > [Braque always said that the only thing that counts, in painting, is the intention, and it's true. What counts is what one wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/braque-always-said-that-the-only-thing-that-counts-in-painting-is-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“Whenever you look back and say, "If," you know you're in trouble. There's no such thing as "if." The only thing that counts is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale/whenever-you-look-back-and-say-if-you-know-you-re-in-trouble-there-s/) [D.J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale/) > [The only thing that counts is a satisfied customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-carlzon/the-only-thing-that-counts-is-a-satisfied-customer/) [Jan Carlzon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-carlzon/) > [The most important thing is who counts the votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/the-most-important-thing-is-who-counts-the-votes/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [Only one thing counts in this life - get them to sign on the line that is dotted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-baldwin/only-one-thing-counts-in-this-life-get-them-to-sign-on-the-line-that/) [Alec Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-baldwin/) ## More by Edward R. Murrow > [Tuberculosis, starvation, fatigue, and there are many who have no desire to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/tuberculosis-starvation-fatigue-and-there-are-many-who-have-no-desire/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [A thing of orchestrated hell-a terrible symphony of light and flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/a-thing-of-orchestrated-hell-a-terrible-symphony-of-light-and-flame/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [“A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/a-great-many-people-think-they-are-thinking-when-they-are-really/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [American traditions and the American ethic require us to be truthful, but the most important reason is that truth is the best propaganda and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/american-traditions-and-the-american-ethic-require-us-to-be-truthful/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [We are in the same tent as the clowns and the freaks-that's show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/we-are-in-the-same-tent-as-the-clowns-and-the-freaks-that-s-show/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [When the politicians complain that TV turns the proceedings into a circus, it should be made clear that the circus was already there, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/when-the-politicians-complain-that-tv-turns-the-proceedings-into-a/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Most truths are so naked that people feel sorry for them and cover them up, at least a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/most-truths-are-so-naked-that-people-feel-sorry-for-them-and-cover/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/we-will-not-be-driven-by-fear-into-an-age-of-unreason-if-we-dig-deep/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Senator McCarthy's reckless and unfounded attempt to impugn my loyalty is just one more example of his typical tactic of attempting to tie up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/senator-mccarthy-s-reckless-and-unfounded-attempt-to-impugn-my/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Our major obligation is not to mistake slogans for solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/our-major-obligation-is-not-to-mistake-slogans-for-solutions/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/we-must-not-confuse-dissent-with-disloyalty/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [We have currently a built-in allergy to unpleasant or disturbing information. Our mass media reflect this. But unless we get up off our fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/we-have-currently-a-built-in-allergy-to-unpleasant-or-disturbing/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Don't be deluded into believing that the titular heads of the networks control what appears on their networks. They all have better taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/don-t-be-deluded-into-believing-that-the-titular-heads-of-the/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Our history will be what we make of it. If we go on as we are, then history will take its revenge and retribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/our-history-will-be-what-we-make-of-it-if-we-go-on-as-we-are-then/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [I have said, and I believe, that potentially we have in this country a free enterprise system of radio and television which is superior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/i-have-said-and-i-believe-that-potentially-we-have-in-this-country-a/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) [Explore all 92 Edward R. Murrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) ## 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? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only thing that counts is the right to know, to speak, to think - that, and the sanctity of the courts. Otherwise it's not America.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward R. 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