--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No nation ancient or modern ever lost the…" description: "\"No nation ancient or modern ever lost the liberty of freely speaking, writing, or publishing their sentiments, but forthwith lost their liberty in gene..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/john-peter-zenger-60901_ancient_no-nation-ancient-or-modern-ever-lost-th_749294.png" --- # No nation ancient or modern ever lost the liberty of… ![“No nation ancient or modern ever lost the liberty of freely speaking, writing, or publishing their sentiments, but forthwith lost their liberty in general and became slaves.” quote by John Peter Zenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/john-peter-zenger-60901_ancient_no-nation-ancient-or-modern-ever-lost-th_749294.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/john-peter-zenger-60901_ancient_no-nation-ancient-or-modern-ever-lost-th_749294.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/john-peter-zenger-60901_ancient_no-nation-ancient-or-modern-ever-lost-th_749294.png) > “No nation ancient or modern ever lost the liberty of freely speaking, writing, or publishing their sentiments, but forthwith lost their liberty in general and became slaves.” [John Peter Zenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-peter-zenger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Loss of free expression leads to broader loss of liberty and enslavement. **In simple terms:** Silencing speech endangers overall freedom. Key Takeaway Defend free speech fiercely. Themes freedom speech oppression Mood cautionary serious Type historical political When to use this quote - media - activism - education - government policy Key Concepts political theory civil rights Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards protect speech today? - How does speech freedom impact democracy? A Different Perspective Security measures can suppress dissent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishing/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [One of the least impressive liberties is the liberty to starve. This particular liberty is freely accorded to authors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-goodman-arnold-goodman/one-of-the-least-impressive-liberties-is-the-liberty-to-starve-this/) Baron Goodman Arnold Goodman > [Some states have lost their liberty, by particular accidents: but this calamity is generally owing to the decay of virtue. A people is travelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickinson/some-states-have-lost-their-liberty-by-particular-accidents-but-this/) [John Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickinson/) > [Many free countries have lost their liberty, and ours may lose hers; but, if she shall, be it my proudest plume, not that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/many-free-countries-have-lost-their-liberty-and-ours-may-lose-hers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [HUSBAND, A man who lost his liberty in the pursuit of happiness;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/husband-a-man-who-lost-his-liberty-in-the-pursuit-of-happiness/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Men regard it as their right to return evil for evil and, if they cannot, feel they have lost their liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/men-regard-it-as-their-right-to-return-evil-for-evil-and-if-they/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [I started publishing my comic while I was still living with my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-started-publishing-my-comic-while-i-was-still-living-with-my-parents/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [And I'm working with all these great people at Sony Publishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-i-m-working-with-all-these-great-people-at-sony-publishing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was doing it, I just thought, 'I'm going to do this because it's fun.' I wasn't writing for a publisher or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/when-i-was-doing-it-i-just-thought-i-m-going-to-do-this-because-it-s/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Memoirs are going to be problematic sells for a while, though, because even if memoir means "based in memory," right now, in the collective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-monroe/memoirs-are-going-to-be-problematic-sells-for-a-while-though-because/) [Debra Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-monroe/) > [Truth is, people like buying things for $0.99 and $1.99 for their digital devices. We know that from iTunes. We know that from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/truth-is-people-like-buying-things-for-0-99-and-1-99-for-their/) [Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/) > [“By their very nature, idiots do not have the intellectual capacity to identify genius. All that idiots are mentally equipped to recognize are other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dermot-davis/by-their-very-nature-idiots-do-not-have-the-intellectual-capacity-to/) [Dermot Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dermot-davis/) > [One of the things that's great about New York is that it is not a one-industry town. It has education, academia, the service industry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/one-of-the-things-that-s-great-about-new-york-is-that-it-is-not-a-one/) [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) Edward Einhorn > [To refer even in passing to unpublished or struggling authors and their problems is to put oneself at some risk, so I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/to-refer-even-in-passing-to-unpublished-or-struggling-authors-and/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) ## More by John Peter Zenger > [Managers control. Leaders create commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-peter-zenger/managers-control-leaders-create-commitment/) [John Peter Zenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-peter-zenger/) > [My Day Clothes are almost worne out...send the poor printer a few gammons, or some meal, some butter, cheese, poultry, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-peter-zenger/my-day-clothes-are-almost-worne-out-send-the-poor-printer-a-few/) [John Peter Zenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-peter-zenger/) > [Great leaders are not defined by the absence of weakness, but rather by the presence of clear strengths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-peter-zenger/great-leaders-are-not-defined-by-the-absence-of-weakness-but-rather/) [John Peter Zenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-peter-zenger/) > [The loss of liberty in general would soon follow the suppression of the liberty of the press; for it is an essential branch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-peter-zenger/the-loss-of-liberty-in-general-would-soon-follow-the-suppression-of/) [John Peter Zenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-peter-zenger/) [Explore all 5 John Peter Zenger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-peter-zenger/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [All the stories I have told you are finally as useless as all ancient knowledge is to man and to us. Its images and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/all-the-stories-i-have-told-you-are-finally-as-useless-as-all-ancient/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/science-has-revealed-a-universe-that-is-vast-ancient-violent-strange/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) [Browse all 2,415 Ancient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No nation ancient or modern ever lost the liberty of freely speaking, writing, or publishing their sentiments, but forthwith lost their liberty in general and became slaves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Peter Zenger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-peter-zenger/no-nation-ancient-or-modern-ever-lost-the-liberty-of-freely-speaking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ancient" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-peter-zenger/no-nation-ancient-or-modern-ever-lost-the-liberty-of-freely-speaking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/john-peter-zenger-60901_ancient_no-nation-ancient-or-modern-ever-lost-th_749294.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/john-peter-zenger-60901_ancient_no-nation-ancient-or-modern-ever-lost-th_749294.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/john-peter-zenger-60901_ancient_no-nation-ancient-or-modern-ever-lost-th_749294.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No nation ancient or modern ever lost the liberty of freely speaking, writing, or publishing their…” — John Peter Zenger", "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": "John Peter Zenger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-peter-zenger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No nation ancient or modern ever...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-peter-zenger/no-nation-ancient-or-modern-ever-lost-the-liberty-of-freely-speaking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-peter-zenger/no-nation-ancient-or-modern-ever-lost-the-liberty-of-freely-speaking/#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 } } ] } ```