--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A democratic state will protect the…" description: "\"A democratic state will protect the freedom to hold any beliefs other than those that harm others, such as racism. In particular, it will see to it tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67c/mario-bunge-17317_belief_a-democratic-state-will-protect-the-free_1115329.jpg" --- # A democratic state will protect the freedom to hold any… ![“A democratic state will protect the freedom to hold any beliefs other than those that harm others, such as racism. In particular, it will see to it that no one is harmed just because of her beliefs.” quote by Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67c/mario-bunge-17317_belief_a-democratic-state-will-protect-the-free_1115329.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67c/mario-bunge-17317_belief_a-democratic-state-will-protect-the-free_1115329.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67c/mario-bunge-17317_belief_a-democratic-state-will-protect-the-free_1115329.jpg) > “A democratic state will protect the freedom to hold any beliefs other than those that harm others, such as racism. In particular, it will see to it that no one is harmed just because of her beliefs.” [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A democratic society must protect all harmless beliefs while preventing harmful ones like racism. **In simple terms:** Freedom of belief, limited by harm. Key Takeaway Safeguard harmless ideas. Themes freedom tolerance rights Mood thoughtful serious Type theoretical argumentative When to use this quote - legislation - education - public discourse Key Concepts political theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs should be limited? - How to enforce without infringing liberty? A Different Perspective Balancing freedom and protection can be contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [So Israel won't be a democratic state, so what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/so-israel-won-t-be-a-democratic-state-so-what/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [I am challenging Ezer Weizman to accept the democratic state where both of us can live in this democratic state. What confederation? No. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/i-am-challenging-ezer-weizman-to-accept-the-democratic-state-where/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [The fact is that you literally, by definition, cannot have a Jewish state and a democratic state and have a whole bunch of Palestinians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/the-fact-is-that-you-literally-by-definition-cannot-have-a-jewish/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [There’s no democratic state that’s not compromised to the very core by its part in generating human misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilles-deleuze/there-s-no-democratic-state-that-s-not-compromised-to-the-very-core/) [Gilles Deleuze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilles-deleuze/) > [“For some of our most important beliefs we have no evidence at all, except that people we love and trust hold these beliefs. Considering”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/for-some-of-our-most-important-beliefs-we-have-no-evidence-at-all/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [Most true believers, when faced with evidence that contradicts their beliefs, will hold on to those beliefs even more strongly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-thomas/most-true-believers-when-faced-with-evidence-that-contradicts-their/) [Mark Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-thomas/) > [The basic fault lines today are not between people with different beliefs but between people who hold these beliefs with an element of uncertainty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-l-berger/the-basic-fault-lines-today-are-not-between-people-with-different/) [Peter L. Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-l-berger/) > [“At this point I reveal myself in my true colours, as a stick-in-the-mud. I hold a number of beliefs that have been repudiated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/at-this-point-i-reveal-myself-in-my-true-colours-as-a-stick-in-the/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [“Hold your beliefs lightly.’ Certainty is not necessarily a friend of sanity, although it is often mistaken for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-school-of-life/hold-your-beliefs-lightly-certainty-is-not-necessarily-a-friend-of/) [The School of Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-school-of-life/) > [“When your turn comes to jump into the Nothing, you too will be a nameless servant of power, with no will of your own.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/when-your-turn-comes-to-jump-into-the-nothing-you-too-will-be-a/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [“No one knows the true “us” because we don’t let them. It is a lonely place because we keep pretending to be someone we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-rico/no-one-knows-the-true-us-because-we-don-t-let-them-it-is-a-lonely/) Dallas Rico > [Believers should acknowledge and wrestle with doubts... It is no longer sufficient to hold beliefs just because you inherited them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/believers-should-acknowledge-and-wrestle-with-doubts-it-is-no-longer/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“We should be agnostic about those things for which there is no evidence. We should not hold beliefs merely because they gratify our desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-should-be-agnostic-about-those-things-for-which-there-is-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It takes a lot more energy to fail than to succeed, since it takes a lot of concentrated energy to hold on to beliefs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-gillies/it-takes-a-lot-more-energy-to-fail-than-to-succeed-since-it-takes-a/) [Jerry Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-gillies/) ## More by Mario Bunge > [Science is morally neutral, but social science shows us that some moral codes are better than others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/science-is-morally-neutral-but-social-science-shows-us-that-some/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [Whereas science elicits changes in order to know, technology knows in order to elicit changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/whereas-science-elicits-changes-in-order-to-know-technology-knows-in/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [We deem valuable whatever is likely to meet our needs or wishes (individual values) and whatever is likely to help protect or attain social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/we-deem-valuable-whatever-is-likely-to-meet-our-needs-or-wishes/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [A distinguished cognitive neuroscientist confessed to me that, because of his religious upbringing, he could not get rid of psychoneural dualism. The idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/a-distinguished-cognitive-neuroscientist-confessed-to-me-that-because/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [In the scientific community you find competent teachers and original researchers, just as in the musical community you find many good performers but very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/in-the-scientific-community-you-find-competent-teachers-and-original/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [Of course much remains to know, but we know how to learn: through scientific research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/of-course-much-remains-to-know-but-we-know-how-to-learn-through/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [Most contemporary philosophers are conservative and eager to keep their jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/most-contemporary-philosophers-are-conservative-and-eager-to-keep/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [To me, work is not a burden but my main hobby. This is why I always take work with me when I go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/to-me-work-is-not-a-burden-but-my-main-hobby-this-is-why-i-always/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [The motto of science is not just Pauca but rather Plurima ex paucissimis - the most out of the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/the-motto-of-science-is-not-just-pauca-but-rather-plurima-ex/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [It is scandalous the way some scientists accept uncritically some of the most ridiculous speculations, such as the plurality of worlds, the opinion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/it-is-scandalous-the-way-some-scientists-accept-uncritically-some-of/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [All philosophers can do is to abstain from helping the aggressors and to enjoin social scientists to tell the truth instead of joining the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/all-philosophers-can-do-is-to-abstain-from-helping-the-aggressors-and/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [In any event, I don't believe in instant philosophy, because interesting problems take a long time to understand and work out. Just think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/in-any-event-i-don-t-believe-in-instant-philosophy-because/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [Only the stupid and the wicked can fear rational criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/only-the-stupid-and-the-wicked-can-fear-rational-criticism/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [The fact is that all the important political philosophers and scientists from the great Aristotle on, with the exception of those of the French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/the-fact-is-that-all-the-important-political-philosophers-and/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [Philosophy can help laymen spot and reject the numerous pseudoscientific beliefs that survive in the media, such as the fantasies of psychoanalysts, evolutionary psychologists,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/philosophy-can-help-laymen-spot-and-reject-the-numerous/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) [Explore all 35 Mario Bunge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [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/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [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/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A democratic state will protect the freedom to hold any beliefs other than those that harm others, such as racism. 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