--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In fact, I would defend to the death…" description: "\"In fact, I would defend to the death their right to express a different point of view.\" — Martin McGuinness" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/martin-mcguinness-9531_death_in-fact-i-would-defend-to-the-death-thei_2143378.png" --- # In fact, I would defend to the death their right to… ![“In fact, I would defend to the death their right to express a different point of view.” quote by Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/martin-mcguinness-9531_death_in-fact-i-would-defend-to-the-death-thei_2143378.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/martin-mcguinness-9531_death_in-fact-i-would-defend-to-the-death-thei_2143378.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/martin-mcguinness-9531_death_in-fact-i-would-defend-to-the-death-thei_2143378.png) > “In fact, I would defend to the death their right to express a different point of view.” [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Defending free expression, even opposing views, is essential for democracy. **In simple terms:** Defend free speech. Key Takeaway Protect all viewpoints. Themes freedom speech democracy tolerance Mood thoughtful serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - public debate - legislative policy - media - education Key Concepts political theory human rights Questions to Reflect On - When should speech be limited? - How do you balance free speech with safety? A Different Perspective Extremist speech may cause harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-right-239078/) [Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend/) [Defend Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend-death-549943/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different Point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-point-799148/) [Different point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-point-of-view/) [Express](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/express/) [Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact/) [Fact Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact-defend-4473263/) [In fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/in-fact/) [Point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [View](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/view/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) ## Related quotes > [Most people would rather defend to the death your right to say it than listen to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/most-people-would-rather-defend-to-the-death-your-right-to-say-it/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an ass of yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-may-not-agree-with-you-but-i-will-defend-to-the-death-your-right-to/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I will defend, to your death, my right to my opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-defend-to-your-death-my-right-to-my-opinion/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At different times in my life I met God from a different point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-bone-burnett/at-different-times-in-my-life-i-met-god-from-a-different-point-of-view/) [T Bone Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-bone-burnett/) > [Everyone have a different point of view for improvement itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/everyone-have-a-different-point-of-view-for-improvement-itself/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“novels have the power to transport you into another existence, and see the world from a different point of view.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-berthoud/novels-have-the-power-to-transport-you-into-another-existence-and-see/) [Ella Berthoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-berthoud/) > [It's funny: everybody is going to have a little bit of different point of views when it comes to parenting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haylie-duff/it-s-funny-everybody-is-going-to-have-a-little-bit-of-different-point/) [Haylie Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haylie-duff/) > [Distance is a problem now, but if we look at it from a different point of view, we will know this is the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-problem-now-but-if-we-look-at-it-from-a-different-point/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always tell women to use the fact that we offer a different point of view in a room full of men, to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmasree-warrior/i-always-tell-women-to-use-the-fact-that-we-offer-a-different-point/) [Padmasree Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmasree-warrior/) > [When you do something in a nonviolent way, people will die and there will be casualties. 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You can access things from a different point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-gopi/it-is-always-good-to-take-a-break-and-then-come-back-with-more/) [Suresh Gopi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-gopi/) > [I do represent a different aesthetic to drag, I have a different point of view with everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-zahara-benet/i-do-represent-a-different-aesthetic-to-drag-i-have-a-different-point/) [BeBe Zahara Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-zahara-benet/) > [If you tailor your news viewing so that you only get one point of view, well of course you're going to think somebody else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jennings/if-you-tailor-your-news-viewing-so-that-you-only-get-one-point-of/) [Peter Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jennings/) > [“Only those who'd changed could see things from a different point of view.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/only-those-who-d-changed-could-see-things-from-a-different-point-of/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) ## More by Martin McGuinness > [The position is clear - there is no ambiguity in Sinn Fein's position. We, along with all the other parties, have signed up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/the-position-is-clear-there-is-no-ambiguity-in-sinn-fein-s-position/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [The British government needs to bring its system in Ireland under control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/the-british-government-needs-to-bring-its-system-in-ireland-under/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Well I think it has always been a mistake to reduce the peace process in Ireland to a decommissioning process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/well-i-think-it-has-always-been-a-mistake-to-reduce-the-peace-process/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [That's healthy and good for us that there are people who are prepared to question what we are doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/that-s-healthy-and-good-for-us-that-there-are-people-who-are-prepared/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [World War One is an important part of Ireland's multi-layered history during which tens of thousands Irish people lost their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/world-war-one-is-an-important-part-of-ireland-s-multi-layered-history/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I don't cheer when people lose their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-don-t-cheer-when-people-lose-their-lives/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Along with that ongoing process Sinn Fein took a decision to establish a peace commission which had the responsibility to travel around the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/along-with-that-ongoing-process-sinn-fein-took-a-decision-to/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Unlike the Tory millionaires, I live in the heart of the proud working-class community of the Bogside in Derry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/unlike-the-tory-millionaires-i-live-in-the-heart-of-the-proud-working/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I do not think we can dismiss the contribution that people make, particularly when it is a very dangerous occupation to be involved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-do-not-think-we-can-dismiss-the-contribution-that-people-make/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I lost a lot of friends at the hands of the British Army. The person who actually introduced me to my wife, Colm Keenan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-lost-a-lot-of-friends-at-the-hands-of-the-british-army-the-person/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Let's leave beside them in another pile all the injustices which exist in the northern state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/let-s-leave-beside-them-in-another-pile-all-the-injustices-which/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [The reality is that the people that we represent are no longer going to be second-class citizens in their own country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/the-reality-is-that-the-people-that-we-represent-are-no-longer-going/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Freedom can be gained only at the point of an IRA rifle, and I apologize to no one for saying that we support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/freedom-can-be-gained-only-at-the-point-of-an-ira-rifle-and-i/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Our ability to make a decision about the declaration is hampered by the British government being reluctant to give us the clarification which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/our-ability-to-make-a-decision-about-the-declaration-is-hampered-by/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I am opposed to abortion on demand, and I am opposed to the 1967 Act in Britain being transferred to the north.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-am-opposed-to-abortion-on-demand-and-i-am-opposed-to-the-1967-act/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) [Explore all 72 Martin McGuinness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. 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Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) [J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/) > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) [Alan W. 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