--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think students ought to have the right…" description: "\"I think students ought to have the right to protest, but not to the point of anarchy.\" — Johnny Carson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/johnny-carson-2644_anarchy_i-think-students-ought-to-have-the-right_2185243.png" --- # I think students ought to have the right to protest, but… ![“I think students ought to have the right to protest, but not to the point of anarchy.” quote by Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/johnny-carson-2644_anarchy_i-think-students-ought-to-have-the-right_2185243.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/johnny-carson-2644_anarchy_i-think-students-ought-to-have-the-right_2185243.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/johnny-carson-2644_anarchy_i-think-students-ought-to-have-the-right_2185243.png) > “I think students ought to have the right to protest, but not to the point of anarchy.” [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing free expression with social order; protest is a right but must avoid chaos. **In simple terms:** Protest is okay, but not anarchy. Key Takeaway Support rights, set limits. Themes freedom responsibility civil discourse Mood thoughtful balanced Type political ethical When to use this quote - student activism - political rallies - campus debates Key Concepts democracy social contract Questions to Reflect On - When does protest cross into disorder? - How can institutions protect both rights and safety? A Different Perspective Protest can still become disruptive if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchy/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Protest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protest/) [Protest Point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protest-point-4737112/) [Right Protest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-protest-914133/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Students Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students-ought-614125/) [Think Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-students-1073063/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Instead of making prisoners out of our students, we ought to make students out of our prisoners.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-w-silver/instead-of-making-prisoners-out-of-our-students-we-ought-to-make/) [Paul W. Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-w-silver/) > [People have a right to give a speech. And people have a right to protest. But I'm not a great fan of disrupting people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/people-have-a-right-to-give-a-speech-and-people-have-a-right-to/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I think the Democrats are right to protest, but I don't think Jeff Sessions is so far out of the range of normalcy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-the-democrats-are-right-to-protest-but-i-don-t-think-jeff/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [People have a right to protest peacefully, but there's absolutely no excuse for anyone to be conducting a campaign of intimidation that may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-soutphommasane/people-have-a-right-to-protest-peacefully-but-there-s-absolutely-no/) [Tim Soutphommasane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-soutphommasane/) > [You have a right to protest. But I don't quite understand why anybody thinks it's a good idea to deny somebody else the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/you-have-a-right-to-protest-but-i-don-t-quite-understand-why-anybody/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [It is not fair to think that when students transit through a K-12 system that is not preparing them for beyond, that somehow we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/it-is-not-fair-to-think-that-when-students-transit-through-a-k-12/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [I think many of my students have followed the advice I gave years ago, to give more than you take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/i-think-many-of-my-students-have-followed-the-advice-i-gave-years-ago/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [I think students should know something about religion as a historical phenomenon, in the same way that they should know something about socialism and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/i-think-students-should-know-something-about-religion-as-a-historical/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [“The questions of the students are often the source of new research. They often ask profound questions that I’ve thought about at times and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-feyman/the-questions-of-the-students-are-often-the-source-of-new-research/) [Richard Feyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-feyman/) > [I think all students start off with incredible ability and curiosity, and if they're given the opportunity to pursue that, if they're given a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-think-all-students-start-off-with-incredible-ability-and-curiosity/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I don't think there are any students who should not be exposed to a basic financial literacy course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/i-don-t-think-there-are-any-students-who-should-not-be-exposed-to-a/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [I don't understand why we have to experiment with film. I think everything should be done on paper. A musician has to do it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-hitchcock/i-don-t-understand-why-we-have-to-experiment-with-film-i-think/) [Alfred Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-hitchcock/) > [I don't think that we need to raise tuition on our students. I don't think that our students should be made to pay for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/i-don-t-think-that-we-need-to-raise-tuition-on-our-students-i-don-t/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [I think about all of my students who were math-phobic, who didn't believe they could learn math, who didn't understand, who didn't think they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-think-about-all-of-my-students-who-were-math-phobic-who-didn-t/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [I'm amazed when I think about students today. They know from day one what they are going to be. We didn't. We just coasted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-m-amazed-when-i-think-about-students-today-they-know-from-day-one/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) ## More by Johnny Carson > [It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth. I work because I enjoy what I'm doing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/it-s-silly-to-have-as-one-s-sole-object-in-life-just-making-money/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [The only issue cash presents you is the independence of not stressing about funds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-only-issue-cash-presents-you-is-the-independence-of-not-stressing/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [ I can empathize with President \[George Bush\]. I know what it feels like having a young guy waiting around for you to keel over. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-can-empathize-with-president-george-bush-i-know-what-it-feels-like/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [From the time I was a little kid, I was always shy. Performing was when I was outgoing. So I guess I am a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/from-the-time-i-was-a-little-kid-i-was-always-shy-performing-was-when/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [ I'm often asked, "What is your favorite moment during the 30 years you hosted \[The Tonight Show\]?" I really don't have just one. The… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-m-often-asked-what-is-your-favorite-moment-during-the-30-years-you/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [For days after death hair and fingernails continue to grow, but phone calls taper off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/for-days-after-death-hair-and-fingernails-continue-to-grow-but-phone/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Money gives me just one big thing that's really important, and that's the freedom of not having to worry about money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/money-gives-me-just-one-big-thing-that-s-really-important-and-that-s/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [In Hollywood if you don't have a shrink, people think you're crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/in-hollywood-if-you-don-t-have-a-shrink-people-think-you-re-crazy/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Ronald Reagan just signed the new tax law. But I think he was in Hollywood too long. He signed it, 'Best wishes, Ronald Reagan.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/ronald-reagan-just-signed-the-new-tax-law-but-i-think-he-was-in/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [The good news is that the president gets another chance. The bad news is that he'll be two weeks older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-good-news-is-that-the-president-gets-another-chance-the-bad-news/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Anytime four New Yorkers get into a cab together without arguing, a bank robbery has just taken place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/anytime-four-new-yorkers-get-into-a-cab-together-without-arguing-a/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [For three days after death, hair and fingernails continue to grow but phone calls taper off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/for-three-days-after-death-hair-and-fingernails-continue-to-grow-but/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Democracy means free television, not good television, but free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/democracy-means-free-television-not-good-television-but-free/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [I know a man who gave up smoking, drinking, sex, and rich food. He was healthy right up to the day he killed himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-know-a-man-who-gave-up-smoking-drinking-sex-and-rich-food-he-was/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Never ask your wife if she still hears from her old pimp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/never-ask-your-wife-if-she-still-hears-from-her-old-pimp/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) [Explore all 156 Johnny Carson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) ## More Anarchy quotes > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [The "health, education, and welfare" section of government is another boondoggle. First we manufacture indigent and superfluous people by legal monopolies in land, money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurance-labadie/the-health-education-and-welfare-section-of-government-is-another/) [Laurance Labadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurance-labadie/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [So far I'm still standing on 'Sons of Anarchy' but all the rest of the people on the show have me in their crosshairs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-pileggi/so-far-i-m-still-standing-on-sons-of-anarchy-but-all-the-rest-of-the/) [Mitch Pileggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-pileggi/) > [“Anarchy Evolution: Faith, Science and Bad Religion in a World Without God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/anarchy-evolution-faith-science-and-bad-religion-in-a-world-without/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [Perhaps it is this theory of all work and no play that has made the Marxist such a very dull boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/perhaps-it-is-this-theory-of-all-work-and-no-play-that-has-made-the/) [Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [In morals as in politics anarchy is not for the weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/in-morals-as-in-politics-anarchy-is-not-for-the-weak/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [I think that if you run a big company, you've got to, four or five times a year, just say, 'Hey team, look, here's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-immelt/i-think-that-if-you-run-a-big-company-you-ve-got-to-four-or-five/) [Jeffrey R. Immelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-immelt/) > [Where you have no religion, you are sure to have no government, for as religion disappears, anarchy takes place and fixes a compleat Hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-morgan/where-you-have-no-religion-you-are-sure-to-have-no-government-for-as/) [Daniel Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-morgan/) > [What a comfort it is to feel that amid the chaos and anarchy which sweep the surface, God is holding fast the foundations on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-b-meyer/what-a-comfort-it-is-to-feel-that-amid-the-chaos-and-anarchy-which/) [F.B. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-b-meyer/) > [“An anarchist government somehow creates an impression in the hearts of citizens that no one cares.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-anarchist-government-somehow-creates-an-impression-in-the-hearts/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Would you like to do something good for the future of the human race; well, start killing some of its powerful members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-brown/would-you-like-to-do-something-good-for-the-future-of-the-human-race/) [William C. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-brown/) > [“twenty-three years of RFRAs to produce anarchy,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/twenty-three-years-of-rfras-to-produce-anarchy/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [Freedom is that faculty that enlarges the usefulness of all other faculties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/freedom-is-that-faculty-that-enlarges-the-usefulness-of-all-other/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) [Browse all 795 Anarchy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think students ought to have the right to protest, but not to the point of anarchy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johnny Carson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-think-students-ought-to-have-the-right-to-protest-but-not-to-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anarchy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-think-students-ought-to-have-the-right-to-protest-but-not-to-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/johnny-carson-2644_anarchy_i-think-students-ought-to-have-the-right_2185243.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/johnny-carson-2644_anarchy_i-think-students-ought-to-have-the-right_2185243.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/johnny-carson-2644_anarchy_i-think-students-ought-to-have-the-right_2185243.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think students ought to have the right to protest, but not to the point of anarchy.” — Johnny Carson", "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": "Johnny Carson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think students ought to have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-think-students-ought-to-have-the-right-to-protest-but-not-to-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-think-students-ought-to-have-the-right-to-protest-but-not-to-the/#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 } } ] } ```