Moral law Quote by Foucault, Michel
““Parrhesia is a kind of verbal activity where the speaker has a specific relation to truth through frankness, a certain relationship to his own life through danger, a certain type of relation to himself or other people through criticism (self-criticism or criticism of other people), and a specific relation to moral law through freedom and duty. More precisely, parrhesia is a verbal activity in which a speaker expresses his personal relationship to truth, and risks his life because he recognizes truth-telling as a duty to improve or help other people (as well as himself). In parrhesia, the speaker uses his freedom and chooses frankness instead of persuasion, truth instead of falsehood or silence, the risk of death instead of life and security, criticism instead of flattery, and moral duty instead of self-interest and moral apathy””
About This Quote
Source Book: Discipline and Punish, Michel Foucault, 1975
Parrhesia is speaking truth boldly, accepting risk, and acting from moral duty rather than self‑interest.
In simple terms: Bold truth‑telling risks safety for moral duty.
Key Takeaway
Practice courageous honesty.
Themes
ethics
political theory
courage
truth
Mood
provocative
intense
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political activism
- academic discourse
- public speaking
- whistleblowing
Key Concepts
verbal risk
moral duty
self‑criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- What costs are you willing to bear for truth?
- How does power affect the ability to speak freely?
A Different Perspective
Risk may lead to personal harm or marginalization.
![“The true fountains of evidence [are] the head and heart of every rational and honest man. It is there nature has written her moral laws, and where every man may read them for himself.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4fc/thomas-jefferson-43_every-man_the-true-fountains-of-evidence-are-the-h_163246.jpg)
