---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that…"
description: "\"In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that individual communities should set obscenity standards. Whenever a case is tried, it will be based on a community ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/larry-flynt-14805_cases_in-1973-the-supreme-court-ruled-that-ind_343107.jpg"
---

#  In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that individual…

![“In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that individual communities should set obscenity standards. Whenever a case is tried, it will be based on a community standard for that particular place.” quote by Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/larry-flynt-14805_cases_in-1973-the-supreme-court-ruled-that-ind_343107.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/larry-flynt-14805_cases_in-1973-the-supreme-court-ruled-that-ind_343107.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/larry-flynt-14805_cases_in-1973-the-supreme-court-ruled-that-ind_343107.jpg)

> “In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that individual communities should set obscenity standards. Whenever a case is tried, it will be based on a community standard for that particular place.”

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Community standards dictate obscenity law, meaning local norms shape legal judgments, leading to inconsistent applications across regions.

**In simple terms:** Obscenity judged by local norms.

Key Takeaway

Consider local values in expression.

Themes

law ethics community

Mood

serious analytical

Type

legal political

When to use this quote

- media publishing
- art exhibitions
- online content moderation
- legal defense

Key Concepts

first amendment regional variation

Questions to Reflect On

- How should national law balance local standards?
- What protects free expression while respecting community values?

A Different Perspective

Local standards can suppress minority viewpoints.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Obscenity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obscenity/) [Supreme court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme-court/)

## Related quotes

> [It's true that obscenity is a matter of taste and in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-true-that-obscenity-is-a-matter-of-taste-and-in-the-eye-of-the/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [When you can use dirty words in every situation with everyone, that's a real big liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lina-wertmuller/when-you-can-use-dirty-words-in-every-situation-with-everyone-that-s/)

[Lina Wertmuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lina-wertmuller/)

> [What good is an obscenity trial except to popularize literature?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/what-good-is-an-obscenity-trial-except-to-popularize-literature/)

[Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/)

> [This is not sadly, today being promoted obscenity in the name of modernity, and, sadly is that, younger generation are happily assimilated are pornography,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/this-is-not-sadly-today-being-promoted-obscenity-in-the-name-of/)

Mak\_786

> [Sex and obscenity are not synonymous. Obscene material is material which deals with sex in a manner appealing to prurient interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sex-and-obscenity-are-not-synonymous-obscene-material-is-material/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Since obscenity is the truth of our passion today, it is the only stuff of art -- or almost the only stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/since-obscenity-is-the-truth-of-our-passion-today-it-is-the-only/)

[D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/)

> [Slavery is an obscenity. It is not just stealing someone's labor; it is the theft of an entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bales/slavery-is-an-obscenity-it-is-not-just-stealing-someone-s-labor-it-is/)

[Kevin Bales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bales/)

> [Whether my acting was obscene, or whether it was distasteful, well, Judge Rehnquist, who just recently passed away couldn't define pornography. His comment on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reems/whether-my-acting-was-obscene-or-whether-it-was-distasteful-well/)

[Harry Reems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reems/)

> [There is something powerful in the whispering of obscenities, about those in power. There's something delightful about it, something naughty, secretive, forbidden, thrilling. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/there-is-something-powerful-in-the-whispering-of-obscenities-about/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [Western people often see obscenity where there is only symbolism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-john-woodroffe/western-people-often-see-obscenity-where-there-is-only-symbolism/)

Sir John Woodroffe

> [“They told me I was not to draw.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-diana/they-told-me-i-was-not-to-draw/)

Mike Diana

> [The most important truths always appear first as blasphemies or obscenities. That's why every great innovator is persecuted. And the sacraments look obscene, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/the-most-important-truths-always-appear-first-as-blasphemies-or/)

[Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/)

> [“No more peeping through keyholes! No more mas turbating in the dark! No more public confessions! Unscrew the doors from their jambs! I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/no-more-peeping-through-keyholes-no-more-mas-turbating-in-the-dark-no/)

[Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/)

> [That which attempts to elevate the ugly to the level of beauty becomes neither; but an obscenity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/that-which-attempts-to-elevate-the-ugly-to-the-level-of-beauty/)

[John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/)

> [The nowadays ruling that no word is unprintable has, I think, done nothing whatever for beautiful letters. ... Obscenity is too valuable a commodity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/the-nowadays-ruling-that-no-word-is-unprintable-has-i-think-done/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

## More by Larry Flynt

> [Hypocrisy is a detriment to progress. There's always a hidden agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/hypocrisy-is-a-detriment-to-progress-there-s-always-a-hidden-agenda/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [These days... it's all vanilla sex for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/these-days-it-s-all-vanilla-sex-for-me/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [Well, one thing, you got to stand in a courtroom and listen to a judge sentencing you to 25 years in prison before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/well-one-thing-you-got-to-stand-in-a-courtroom-and-listen-to-a-judge/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [You have to be able to tolerate what you don't necessarily like so you can be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/you-have-to-be-able-to-tolerate-what-you-don-t-necessarily-like-so/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [I will concede to you one thing - 'Hustler' is offensive, even to the point of being iconoclastic. That's our purpose - to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/i-will-concede-to-you-one-thing-hustler-is-offensive-even-to-the/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [Once I began following my own instincts, sales took off and I became a millionaire. And that, I think, is a key secret to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/once-i-began-following-my-own-instincts-sales-took-off-and-i-became-a/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [There's nothing more political than sex. The church has had its hand on our crotch for more than 2,000 years, and the government is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/there-s-nothing-more-political-than-sex-the-church-has-had-its-hand/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [You will encounter many distractions and many temptations to put your goal aside: The security of a job, a wife who wants kids, whatever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/you-will-encounter-many-distractions-and-many-temptations-to-put-your/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [You know, everybody believes in free speech until you start questioning them about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/you-know-everybody-believes-in-free-speech-until-you-start/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [The right-wing of the Republican party isn't so much a political agenda as a plea for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/the-right-wing-of-the-republican-party-isn-t-so-much-a-political/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [The sole motivating factor behind the death penalty is vengeance, not justice, and I firmly believe that a government that forbids killing among its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/the-sole-motivating-factor-behind-the-death-penalty-is-vengeance-not/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [Just because I publish pornography does not mean that I am not concerned about the social ills that all of us are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/just-because-i-publish-pornography-does-not-mean-that-i-am-not/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [My mother always told me that no matter how much you dislike a person, when you meet them face to face you will find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/my-mother-always-told-me-that-no-matter-how-much-you-dislike-a-person/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [If the human body's obscene, complain to the manufacturer, not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/if-the-human-body-s-obscene-complain-to-the-manufacturer-not-me/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [Within three or four months, the average girl will just get used up. It just takes your soul, you know? It just takes your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/within-three-or-four-months-the-average-girl-will-just-get-used-up-it/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

[Explore all 45 Larry Flynt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

## More Cases quotes

> [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/)

[Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/)

> [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/)

[Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/)

> [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/)

[Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/)

> [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/)

[Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/)

> [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [I think we've all had enough of Coltrane saxophonists. There's a case of someone ruining a generation of saxophonists, as Louis Armstrong may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/i-think-we-ve-all-had-enough-of-coltrane-saxophonists-there-s-a-case/)

[Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/)

> [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [The world around us is an increasingly hostile and sinful place. Occasionally that splashes onto us, and perhaps, in the case of a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-world-around-us-is-an-increasingly-hostile-and-sinful-place/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/)

[Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/)

> [ \[As in the case of\] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-branson/as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-illegality-has-driven-organized/)

[Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-branson/)

> [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/)

[Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/)

> [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/)

[Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/)

> [The Cheney team had, for example, technological supremacy over the National Security Council staff. That is to say, they could read their e-mails. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wilkerson/the-cheney-team-had-for-example-technological-supremacy-over-the/)

[Lawrence Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wilkerson/)

> [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

Browse all 6,420 Cases quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that individual communities should set obscenity standards. Whenever a case is tried, it will be based on a community standard for that particular place.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Larry Flynt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/in-1973-the-supreme-court-ruled-that-individual-communities-should/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cases"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/in-1973-the-supreme-court-ruled-that-individual-communities-should/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/larry-flynt-14805_cases_in-1973-the-supreme-court-ruled-that-ind_343107.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/larry-flynt-14805_cases_in-1973-the-supreme-court-ruled-that-ind_343107.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/larry-flynt-14805_cases_in-1973-the-supreme-court-ruled-that-ind_343107.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that individual communities should set obscenity standards. Whenever a case…” — Larry Flynt",
                "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": "Larry Flynt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/in-1973-the-supreme-court-ruled-that-individual-communities-should/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/in-1973-the-supreme-court-ruled-that-individual-communities-should/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
