--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The freedom of the press should be…" description: "\"The freedom of the press should be inviolate.\" — John Quincy Adams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bad/john-quincy-adams-2098_freedom_the-freedom-of-the-press-should-be-invio_2206085.png" --- # The freedom of the press should be inviolate. ![“The freedom of the press should be inviolate.” quote by John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bad/john-quincy-adams-2098_freedom_the-freedom-of-the-press-should-be-invio_2206085.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bad/john-quincy-adams-2098_freedom_the-freedom-of-the-press-should-be-invio_2206085.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bad/john-quincy-adams-2098_freedom_the-freedom-of-the-press-should-be-invio_2206085.png) > “The freedom of the press should be inviolate.” [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A free press must be protected from interference to safeguard democracy. **In simple terms:** Press must stay free. Key Takeaway Defend press independence. Themes freedom democracy rights Mood serious defensive Type political historical When to use this quote - journalism - political discourse - legislative debates - media watchdog - public information Key Concepts civil liberties government accountability Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance press freedom with misinformation? - What safeguards protect press independence? A Different Perspective Press can be misused without responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom of the press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-the-press/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/press/) ## Related quotes > [There is no such thing as absolute freedom of the press, not even in the most advanced countries in the world. There are things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-freedom-of-the-press-not-even-in/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [Some of the press who speak loudly about the freedom of the press are themselves the enemies of freedom. Countless people dare not say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-fisher/some-of-the-press-who-speak-loudly-about-the-freedom-of-the-press-are/) [Geoffrey Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-fisher/) > [I'm not a big fan of regulation: anyone who likes freedom of the press can't be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-regulation-anyone-who-likes-freedom-of-the-press/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [I don't think that there is absolute freedom of the press. We operate under laws - against libel, for instance. The idea that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-keller/i-don-t-think-that-there-is-absolute-freedom-of-the-press-we-operate/) [Bill Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-keller/) > [Freedom of press is limited to those who own one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/freedom-of-press-is-limited-to-those-who-own-one/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Too much freedom of the press is unhealthy for a democracy, I declared.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viet-thanh-nguyen/too-much-freedom-of-the-press-is-unhealthy-for-a-democracy-i-declared/) [Viet Thanh Nguyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viet-thanh-nguyen/) > [Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-liebling/freedom-of-the-press-is-guaranteed-only-to-those-who-own-one/) [A. J. Liebling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-liebling/) > [Freedom of the press underpins free societies around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hurd/freedom-of-the-press-underpins-free-societies-around-the-world/) [Will Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hurd/) > [Freedom of the press without responsibility is madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/freedom-of-the-press-without-responsibility-is-madness/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [Those who write the editorials and those who write the columns, they simply are unaccountable. They're free to impose their cultural politics in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/those-who-write-the-editorials-and-those-who-write-the-columns-they/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [When freedom of the press is threatened, the United States should be leading efforts to protect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/when-freedom-of-the-press-is-threatened-the-united-states-should-be/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [“Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-liebling-2/freedom-of-the-press-is-limited-to-those-who-own-one/) [A.J. Liebling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-liebling-2/) > [The freedom of the press is a valuable privilege; but the abuse of it, in this country, is a frightful evil. The licentiousness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-freedom-of-the-press-is-a-valuable-privilege-but-the-abuse-of-it/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Freedom of press and freedom of speech: What a blessing for a country while in the hands of honest, patriotic men; what a curse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-h-boetcker/freedom-of-press-and-freedom-of-speech-what-a-blessing-for-a-country/) [William J. H. Boetcker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-h-boetcker/) > [Woe to that nation whose literature is cut short by the intrusion of force. This is not merely interference with freedom of the press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/woe-to-that-nation-whose-literature-is-cut-short-by-the-intrusion-of/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) ## More by John Quincy Adams > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [About one-half of the members of Congress are seekers for office at the nomination of the President. Of the remainder, at least one-half have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/about-one-half-of-the-members-of-congress-are-seekers-for-office-at/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [ ...he \[Muhammad\] declared undistinguishing and exterminating war, as a part of his religion, against all the rest of mankind...The precept of the Koran is,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/he-muhammad-declared-undistinguishing-and-exterminating-war-as-a-part/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [A man's diary is a record in youth of his sentiments, in middle age of his actions, in old age of his reflections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/a-man-s-diary-is-a-record-in-youth-of-his-sentiments-in-middle-age-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [There still remains one effort of magnanimity, one sacrifice of prejudice and passion, to be made by the individuals throughout the nation who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/there-still-remains-one-effort-of-magnanimity-one-sacrifice-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [To live without having a Cicero and a Tacitus at hand seems to me as if it was aprivation of one of my limbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/to-live-without-having-a-cicero-and-a-tacitus-at-hand-seems-to-me-as/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [ The Law given from Sinai \[The Ten Commandments\] was a civil and municipal as well as a moral and religious code. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/the-law-given-from-sinai-the-ten-commandments-was-a-civil-and/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Whoever tells the best story wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/whoever-tells-the-best-story-wins/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will be America's heart, her benedictions and her prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/wherever-the-standard-of-freedom-and-independence-has-been-or-shall/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [The gigantic intellect, the envious temper, the ravenous ambition and the rotten heart of Daniel Webster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/the-gigantic-intellect-the-envious-temper-the-ravenous-ambition-and/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [“If the fundamental principles in the Declaration of Independence, as self-evident truths, are real truths, the existence of slavery, in any form, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/if-the-fundamental-principles-in-the-declaration-of-independence-as/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Individual liberty is individual power, and as the power of a community is a mass compounded of individual powers, the nation which enjoys the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/individual-liberty-is-individual-power-and-as-the-power-of-a/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Of all persecuted sects, the Baptists stand forth as most prominent, simply and only because they aim at a more complete and thorough reform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/of-all-persecuted-sects-the-baptists-stand-forth-as-most-prominent/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [“It is my wish to fill every moment of my time with some action of the mind which may contribute to the pleasure or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/it-is-my-wish-to-fill-every-moment-of-my-time-with-some-action-of-the/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Not stones, nor wood, nor the art of artisans make a state; but where men are who know how to take care of themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/not-stones-nor-wood-nor-the-art-of-artisans-make-a-state-but-where/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) [Explore all 186 John Quincy Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. 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