--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the author of the Declaration of…" description: "\"If the author of the Declaration of Independence were to utter such a sentiment today, the Post Office Department could exclude him from the mail, gran..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/frank-i-cobb-82263_books_if-the-author-of-the-declaration-of-inde_1630473.jpg" --- # If the author of the Declaration of Independence were to… ![“If the author of the Declaration of Independence were to utter such a sentiment today, the Post Office Department could exclude him from the mail, grand juries could indict him for sedition and criminal syndicalism, legislative committees could seize his private papers and United States Senators…” quote by Frank I. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/frank-i-cobb-82263_books_if-the-author-of-the-declaration-of-inde_1630473.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/frank-i-cobb-82263_books_if-the-author-of-the-declaration-of-inde_1630473.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/frank-i-cobb-82263_books_if-the-author-of-the-declaration-of-inde_1630473.jpg) > “If the author of the Declaration of Independence were to utter such a sentiment today, the Post Office Department could exclude him from the mail, grand juries could indict him for sedition and criminal syndicalism, legislative committees could seize his private papers and United States Senators would be clamoring for his deportation that he should be sent back to live with the rest of the terrorists.” Frank I. Cobb ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Free speech can be criminalized when political power feels threatened, revealing tension between liberty and authority. **In simple terms:** Speech can be punished if it challenges power. Key Takeaway Defend expression despite risks. Themes politics freedom censorship Mood critical reflective Type historical political When to use this quote - legal defense - activist planning - journalistic integrity Key Concepts civil liberties government overreach historical context Questions to Reflect On - When should speech be limited? - Who decides what is seditious? A Different Perspective May ignore national security concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Declaration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration/) [Declaration of independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration-of-independence/) [Deportation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deportation/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Post office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/post-office/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [A federal grand jury is investigating allegations that David Copperfield raped, assaulted and threatened a woman he took to his private island in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/a-federal-grand-jury-is-investigating-allegations-that-david/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [I've led a grand jury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-ve-led-a-grand-jury/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [So the fact that the grand jury would come back and make the decision not to indict the jailers and not make a decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-cooper/so-the-fact-that-the-grand-jury-would-come-back-and-make-the-decision/) [Sharon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-cooper/) > [More details coming out about Michael Jackson. 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Cobb > [This is revolution in reaction, as well as in radicalism, and Toryism speaking a jargon of law and order may often be a graver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-i-cobb/this-is-revolution-in-reaction-as-well-as-in-radicalism-and-toryism/) Frank I. Cobb Explore all 3 Frank I. 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