Against Quote by Floyd Abrams
“There are some circumstances in which the First Amendment interest comes up against another interest that is really important and in which we have to make a decision in a particular case as to which is more important.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Legal Commentary, 1990s
Balancing free speech with competing societal interests requires case‑by‑case weighing of importance.
In simple terms: Free speech sometimes conflicts with other vital interests.
Key Takeaway
Weigh rights against harms.
Themes
law
rights
conflict
policy
Mood
serious
analytical
Type
legal
explanatory
When to use this quote
- court rulings
- legislative drafting
- public protests
- media regulation
Key Concepts
Constitutional law
balancing test
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we decide which interest prevails?
- What criteria should guide the balancing?
A Different Perspective
Rights may be limited when greater harm is evident.
![“[I]f we assume a liberty interest but nevertheless say that, even assuming a liberty interest, a state can prohibit it entirely, that would be rather a conundrum.” quote by William Rehnquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/16f/william-rehnquist-28058_assuming_i-f-we-assume-a-liberty-interest-but-nev_1642233.jpg)
