--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A 'live' show is either alive or not…" description: "\"A 'live' show is either alive or not. Free speech is free or it is not. Viewers are free to use their remote or TiVo. Parents are responsible or they a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/frank-pierson-44316_alive_a-live-show-is-either-alive-or-not-free_1688920.jpg" --- # A 'live' show is either alive or not. Free speech is free… ![“A 'live' show is either alive or not. Free speech is free or it is not. Viewers are free to use their remote or TiVo. Parents are responsible or they are not.” quote by Frank Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/frank-pierson-44316_alive_a-live-show-is-either-alive-or-not-free_1688920.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/frank-pierson-44316_alive_a-live-show-is-either-alive-or-not-free_1688920.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/frank-pierson-44316_alive_a-live-show-is-either-alive-or-not-free_1688920.jpg) > “A 'live' show is either alive or not. Free speech is free or it is not. Viewers are free to use their remote or TiVo. Parents are responsible or they are not.” [Frank Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pierson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Binary choices simplify complex realities, but oversimplification can ignore nuance. **In simple terms:** Everything is either on or off. Key Takeaway Recognize gray areas. Themes communication freedom responsibility Mood analytical critical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - parenting - media consumption - lawmaking Key Concepts philosophy media theory Questions to Reflect On - When do you need nuance? - How can you balance clarity with complexity? A Different Perspective Over‑simplification can hinder problem solving. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Either](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/either/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-speech/) [Free Viewers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-viewers-1034462/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Remote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remote/) [Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible/) [Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/show/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Speech Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech-free-477375/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Tivo Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tivo-parents-1034463/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Viewers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viewers/) [Viewers Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viewers-free-1034461/) ## Related quotes > [Think 'free speech,' not 'free beer.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/think-free-speech-not-free-beer/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [Free thought, free speech and a free press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-royall/free-thought-free-speech-and-a-free-press/) [Anne Royall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-royall/) > [Make no laws whatever concerning speech, and speech will be free; so soon as you make a declaration on paper that speech shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltairine-de-cleyre/make-no-laws-whatever-concerning-speech-and-speech-will-be-free-so/) [Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltairine-de-cleyre/) > [It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage of irrational fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/it-is-the-function-of-speech-to-free-men-from-the-bondage-of/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [The restoration of free speech, free association and free press is almost the whole Swaraj.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-restoration-of-free-speech-free-association-and-free-press-is/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The west has fiscalised its basic power relationships through a web of contracts, loans, shareholdings, bank holdings and so on. In such an environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/the-west-has-fiscalised-its-basic-power-relationships-through-a-web/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [I prefer a little free speech to no free speech at all; but how many have free speech or the chance or the mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/i-prefer-a-little-free-speech-to-no-free-speech-at-all-but-how-many/) [James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/) > [There is a fine line between free speech and hate speech. Free speech encourages debate whereas hate speech incites violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/there-is-a-fine-line-between-free-speech-and-hate-speech-free-speech/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [Products are a form of speech, and free speech must be fiercely protected, even if we disagree with some of the voices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-lutke/products-are-a-form-of-speech-and-free-speech-must-be-fiercely/) [Tobias Lutke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-lutke/) > [All I care about is free speech and free expression; I want people to be able to be, do, and say anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/all-i-care-about-is-free-speech-and-free-expression-i-want-people-to/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [Hate speech can't be a part of free speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arun-jaitley/hate-speech-can-t-be-a-part-of-free-speech/) [Arun Jaitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arun-jaitley/) > [Speech-Free so I say what I Mean with original bloodstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/speech-free-so-i-say-what-i-mean-with-original-bloodstream/) [C-DASH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-dash/) > [I once wrote about Don Imus that 'speech is free, but consequences are not.' I never want to be the exception to that rule,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/i-once-wrote-about-don-imus-that-speech-is-free-but-consequences-are/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) > [I have no problem with free speech, but free speech and then silencing your opposition - boy, I have a problem with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-lahren/i-have-no-problem-with-free-speech-but-free-speech-and-then-silencing/) [Tomi Lahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-lahren/) > [“The west has fiscalised its basic power relationships through a web of contracts, loans, shareholdings, bank holdings and so on. In such an environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/the-west-has-fiscalised-its-basic-power-relationships-through-a-web-2/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) ## More by Frank Pierson > [Movies are more than a commodity. Movies are to our civilization what dreams and ideals are to individual lives: They express the mystery and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pierson/movies-are-more-than-a-commodity-movies-are-to-our-civilization-what/) [Frank Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pierson/) > [Even a very brief tape-delay introduces a form of censorship into the broadcast - not direct governmental control, but it means that a network…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pierson/even-a-very-brief-tape-delay-introduces-a-form-of-censorship-into-the/) [Frank Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pierson/) > [Every business should have its biographer-not after its head is dead but to show that he's very much alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pierson/every-business-should-have-its-biographer-not-after-its-head-is-dead/) [Frank Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pierson/) > [It used to be that we felt that when we went to a theater, a legitimate theater... that we were going to share an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pierson/it-used-to-be-that-we-felt-that-when-we-went-to-a-theater-a/) [Frank Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pierson/) > [Sit down at ten o'clock in the morning and write anything that comes into my head until twelve. One of the few things I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pierson/sit-down-at-ten-o-clock-in-the-morning-and-write-anything-that-comes/) [Frank Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pierson/) > [There's no question that the '70s themselves were really wide open. There was just so much being done at that time. Every year, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pierson/there-s-no-question-that-the-70s-themselves-were-really-wide-open/) [Frank Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pierson/) > [Movies are to our civilization what dreams and ideals are to individual lives: They express the mystery and help define the nature of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pierson/movies-are-to-our-civilization-what-dreams-and-ideals-are-to/) [Frank Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pierson/) > [We need fewer philosophies and more philosophers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pierson/we-need-fewer-philosophies-and-more-philosophers/) [Frank Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pierson/) [Explore all 9 Frank Pierson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pierson/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A 'live' show is either alive or not. Free speech is free or it is not. Viewers are free to use their remote or TiVo. 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