---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is subversive to set up inquisitions…"
description: "\"It is subversive to set up inquisitions like this, state or national, into the thoughts and consciences of Americans. . . . It is subversive for commis..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/florence-luscomb-84490_causes_it-is-subversive-to-set-up-inquisitions_2257985.jpg"
---

#  It is subversive to set up inquisitions like this, state…

![“It is subversive to set up inquisitions like this, state or national, into the thoughts and consciences of Americans. . . . It is subversive for commissions like this to spread hysteria and intimidation throughout the land that Americans are afraid to sign petitions, afraid to read progressive…” quote by Florence Luscomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/florence-luscomb-84490_causes_it-is-subversive-to-set-up-inquisitions_2257985.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/florence-luscomb-84490_causes_it-is-subversive-to-set-up-inquisitions_2257985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/florence-luscomb-84490_causes_it-is-subversive-to-set-up-inquisitions_2257985.jpg)

> “It is subversive to set up inquisitions like this, state or national, into the thoughts and consciences of Americans. . . . It is subversive for commissions like this to spread hysteria and intimidation throughout the land that Americans are afraid to sign petitions, afraid to read progressive magazines, afraid to make out checks for liberal causes, afraid to join organizations, afraid to speak their mind on public issues. Americans dare not be free citizens! This is the destruction of democracy.”

[Florence Luscomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-luscomb/)

## About This Quote

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

The quote warns that government or national investigations that target personal thoughts and conscience undermine democracy and create fear among citizens.

**In simple terms:** Investigations that police thoughts threaten freedom.

Key Takeaway

Guard free speech and privacy.

Themes

democracy freedom surveillance political repression civil rights

Mood

defensive concerned

Type

political activist

When to use this quote

- voting
- reading
- donations
- joining groups
- public discourse

Key Concepts

authoritarianism civil liberties psychological control

Questions to Reflect On

- How do we balance security and freedom?
- What safeguards protect thought?

A Different Perspective

Such measures may be justified as national security, which can conflict with civil liberties.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Americans Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-afraid-403523/) [Americans Subversive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-subversive-5184299/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Checks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checks/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Consciences Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciences-americans-5184300/) [Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dare/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Hysteria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hysteria/) [Inquisition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquisition/) [Intimidation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimidation/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Magazines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magazines/) [Make out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-out/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Petitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/petitions/) [Progressive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progressive/) [Set Inquisitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/set-inquisitions-5184302/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Spread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spread/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Subversive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subversive/) [Subversive Commissions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subversive-commissions-5184301/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/)

## Related quotes

> [Do not be afriad! I can see that Americans are not afraid. They are not afraid of the sun, they are not afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/do-not-be-afriad-i-can-see-that-americans-are-not-afraid-they-are-not/)

[Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/)

> [I'm afraid of Americans; I'm afraid of the world; I'm afraid I can't help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-m-afraid-of-americans-i-m-afraid-of-the-world-i-m-afraid-i-can-t/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [It was mid-November 2008. There were pirates taking ships with impunity in African waters, terrorists punching holes in Indian security, China sinking towards depression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/it-was-mid-november-2008-there-were-pirates-taking-ships-with/)

[Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/)

> [Immigrants have been coming here for a long time. The Americans that are afraid of others coming were immigrants once themselves, so they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/godfrey/immigrants-have-been-coming-here-for-a-long-time-the-americans-that/)

[Godfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/godfrey/)

> [Are Americans afraid to face the reality that there is a significant portion of this world's population that hates America, hates what freedom represents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hannity/are-americans-afraid-to-face-the-reality-that-there-is-a-significant/)

[Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hannity/)

> [“Like the Biblical Israelites, Americans who are afraid want to put their trust in actors who can effectively protect them, but rather than turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-albertson/like-the-biblical-israelites-americans-who-are-afraid-want-to-put/)

[Bethany Albertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-albertson/)

> [I really want Americans, and all of us, to be less afraid of death, and know that it's a passage, but that - don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/i-really-want-americans-and-all-of-us-to-be-less-afraid-of-death-and/)

[Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/)

> [Americans (I, I'm afraid, among them) go around carelessly assuming they're tolerant the way they go around carelessly saying, 'You ought to be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-halsey/americans-i-i-m-afraid-among-them-go-around-carelessly-assuming-they/)

[Margaret Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-halsey/)

> [Americans are not afraid of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasso-plattner/americans-are-not-afraid-of-the-future/)

[Hasso Plattner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasso-plattner/)

> [A gentleman, is a rarer thing than some of us think for. Which of us can point out many such in his circle--men whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/a-gentleman-is-a-rarer-thing-than-some-of-us-think-for-which-of-us/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [On occasions, after drinking a pint of beer at luncheon, there would be a flow into my mind with sudden and unaccountable emotion, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman/on-occasions-after-drinking-a-pint-of-beer-at-luncheon-there-would-be/)

[A. E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman/)

> [I fancy you give me credit for being a more systematic sort of cove than I really am in the matter of limits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sealy-gosset/i-fancy-you-give-me-credit-for-being-a-more-systematic-sort-of-cove/)

[William Sealy Gosset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sealy-gosset/)

> [The only way that Hollywood ever skews toward liberal is because part of what we make out of Hollywood involves writers, actors, directors, musicians,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/the-only-way-that-hollywood-ever-skews-toward-liberal-is-because-part/)

[Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/)

> [I've been known to make out with girls from time to time. Couple drinks involved, you know, it's fun. And who knows, maybe it'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/i-ve-been-known-to-make-out-with-girls-from-time-to-time-couple/)

[Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/)

> [Memories seem to surface in no particular order, with no time attached. Yesterday can seem as distant as last year. My life now consists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-olsson/memories-seem-to-surface-in-no-particular-order-with-no-time-attached/)

[Linda Olsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-olsson/)

## More by Florence Luscomb

> [Behind the screen of the ballot, the real holders of power ... are the great industrial and monetary monopolies who own our national economic life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-luscomb/behind-the-screen-of-the-ballot-the-real-holders-of-power-are-the/)

[Florence Luscomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-luscomb/)

> [“The tragedy in the lives of most of us is that we go through life walking down a high-walled land with people of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-luscomb/the-tragedy-in-the-lives-of-most-of-us-is-that-we-go-through-life/)

[Florence Luscomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-luscomb/)

[Explore all 3 Florence Luscomb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-luscomb/)

## More Causes quotes

> [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/)

[David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/)

> [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/)

[Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/)

> [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/)

[Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/)

> [Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans. Well, roll my breakfast cause I'm a hungry man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-joe-turner/get-out-from-that-kitchen-and-rattle-those-pots-and-pans-well-roll-my/)

[Big Joe Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-joe-turner/)

> [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/)

[Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/)

> [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/)

[Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/)

> [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/)

[Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/)

> [I don't wear rubbers cause you can't catch it twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/i-don-t-wear-rubbers-cause-you-can-t-catch-it-twice/)

[Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/)

> [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/)

[Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/)

> [Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-was-like-how-she-is-now-when/)

[Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/)

> [I love a lot of things, a whole lot of things / Like / My cousin comes to visit and you know he's from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloise-greenfield/i-love-a-lot-of-things-a-whole-lot-of-things-like-my-cousin-comes-to/)

[Eloise Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloise-greenfield/)

> [Many companies have long contended that stress in the home causes productivity loss in the market place.. and it does. But research now reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-companies-have-long-contended-that-stress-in-the-home-causes/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [The miracle drugs (neuroleptics) cause the worst plague of brain damage in medical history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-breggin/the-miracle-drugs-neuroleptics-cause-the-worst-plague-of-brain-damage/)

[Peter Breggin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-breggin/)

[Browse all 9,070 Causes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is subversive to set up inquisitions like this, state or national, into the thoughts and consciences of Americans. . . . It is subversive for commissions like this to spread hysteria and intimidation throughout the land that Americans are afraid to sign petitions, afraid to read progressive magazines, afraid to make out checks for liberal causes, afraid to join organizations, afraid to speak their mind on public issues. Americans dare not be free citizens! This is the destruction of democracy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Florence Luscomb"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-luscomb/it-is-subversive-to-set-up-inquisitions-like-this-state-or-national/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Causes"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-luscomb/it-is-subversive-to-set-up-inquisitions-like-this-state-or-national/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/florence-luscomb-84490_causes_it-is-subversive-to-set-up-inquisitions_2257985.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/florence-luscomb-84490_causes_it-is-subversive-to-set-up-inquisitions_2257985.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/florence-luscomb-84490_causes_it-is-subversive-to-set-up-inquisitions_2257985.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is subversive to set up inquisitions like this, state or national, into the thoughts and consciences of…” — Florence Luscomb",
                "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": "Florence Luscomb",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-luscomb/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is subversive to set up...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-luscomb/it-is-subversive-to-set-up-inquisitions-like-this-state-or-national/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-luscomb/it-is-subversive-to-set-up-inquisitions-like-this-state-or-national/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
