--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With George Bush, I had absolutely no…" description: "\"With George Bush, I had absolutely no fear that I would ever be silenced. With Donald Trump, I think I could get dragged offstage and have people actua..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/maysoon-zayid-12949_america_with-george-bush-i-had-absolutely-no-fea_857797.jpg" --- # With George Bush, I had absolutely no fear that I would… ![“With George Bush, I had absolutely no fear that I would ever be silenced. With Donald Trump, I think I could get dragged offstage and have people actually cheer it. I never thought that would happen in America.” quote by Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/maysoon-zayid-12949_america_with-george-bush-i-had-absolutely-no-fea_857797.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/maysoon-zayid-12949_america_with-george-bush-i-had-absolutely-no-fea_857797.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/maysoon-zayid-12949_america_with-george-bush-i-had-absolutely-no-fea_857797.jpg) > “With George Bush, I had absolutely no fear that I would ever be silenced. With Donald Trump, I think I could get dragged offstage and have people actually cheer it. I never thought that would happen in America.” [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political climates can shift dramatically, affecting freedom of speech and public reaction. **In simple terms:** Speech freedom varies by leader. Key Takeaway Stay aware of political context and protect expression. Themes free speech politics social climate activism Mood cautious hopeful Type activist inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - activism - media engagement - legal advocacy Key Concepts censorship public discourse political risk Questions to Reflect On - What strategies protect speech in volatile environments? - How can audiences support courageous voices? A Different Perspective Safety concerns may limit open dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [ President \[George\] Bush made the U.S. absolutely the leader, between its own PEPFAR, and it's been by far the biggest Global Fund donor. That's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/president-george-bush-made-the-u-s-absolutely-the-leader-between-its/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I don't care what anybody says, I think that George Bush is absolutely the right president to oversea the end of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-maron/i-don-t-care-what-anybody-says-i-think-that-george-bush-is-absolutely/) [Marc Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-maron/) > [I might be living in a cardboard box under a freeway overpass, homeless, but I won't be silenced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stormy-daniels/i-might-be-living-in-a-cardboard-box-under-a-freeway-overpass/) [Stormy Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stormy-daniels/) > [“She was lost now, she'd been silenced- another dead branch on Cordova's warped tree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/she-was-lost-now-she-d-been-silenced-another-dead-branch-on-cordova-s/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [Anyone who challenges the prevailing orthodoxy finds himself silenced with surprising effectiveness. A genuinely unfashionable opinion is almost never given a fair hearing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/anyone-who-challenges-the-prevailing-orthodoxy-finds-himself-silenced/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [If you are corrupt and you have extra cash you are able to shut the mouth of your accuser and they will be silenced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/if-you-are-corrupt-and-you-have-extra-cash-you-are-able-to-shut-the/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [The voice of universe can be silenced but the voice of writers cannot be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gulzar/the-voice-of-universe-can-be-silenced-but-the-voice-of-writers-cannot/) [Gulzar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gulzar/) > [In our times, significantly, the three outstanding voices against violence have been silenced by murder - Mahatma Gandhi in India, Archbishop Romero in El…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-fenwick/in-our-times-significantly-the-three-outstanding-voices-against/) [Millicent Fenwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-fenwick/) > [“Trauma is personal. It does not disappear if it is not validated. When it is ignored or invalidated the silent screams continue internally heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-bernock/trauma-is-personal-it-does-not-disappear-if-it-is-not-validated-when/) [Danielle Bernock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-bernock/) > [Thought that is silenced is always rebellious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-barth/thought-that-is-silenced-is-always-rebellious/) [Alan Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-barth/) > [“I lived through this horror, and no one can tell me I have to stay quiet. "I have been silenced long enough, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/i-lived-through-this-horror-and-no-one-can-tell-me-i-have-to-stay/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [ If no one speaks out for \[young readers\], if they don’t speak out for themselves, all they’ll get for required reading will be the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/if-no-one-speaks-out-for-young-readers-if-they-don-t-speak-out-for/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) > [It was a spring without voices. On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of robins, catbirds, doves, jays, wrens, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-carson/it-was-a-spring-without-voices-on-the-mornings-that-had-once-throbbed/) [Rachel Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-carson/) > [We need to hear stories from older women. There's a wealth of wisdom and real resilience there, but they're silenced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/we-need-to-hear-stories-from-older-women-there-s-a-wealth-of-wisdom/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [“A silenced leader's gaze stifles the oppressor”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-i-svikiro/a-silenced-leader-s-gaze-stifles-the-oppressor/) Andy I. Svikiro ## More by Maysoon Zayid > [I'm not trying to represent all Muslim women. I'm trying to give voice to the silent majority. Unfortunately, I'm a bit loony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/i-m-not-trying-to-represent-all-muslim-women-i-m-trying-to-give-voice/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [As far as characters that are written as Muslims, we're only seeing one dimension. It's either the good Muslim who is helping the FBI,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/as-far-as-characters-that-are-written-as-muslims-we-re-only-seeing/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [When I ask people what they think of when they hear the term 'cerebral palsy,' I usually get one of two responses. They either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/when-i-ask-people-what-they-think-of-when-they-hear-the-term-cerebral/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [My friend and I founded the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival to counter the negative images of Arabs in media. And we always made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/my-friend-and-i-founded-the-new-york-arab-american-comedy-festival-to/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [People with disabilities are the largest minority in the world, and we are the most underrepresented in entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/people-with-disabilities-are-the-largest-minority-in-the-world-and-we/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [The Palestine I know is a place where Christians and Muslims are equal. My mother, a Muslim village girl, attended a Catholic girls' school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/the-palestine-i-know-is-a-place-where-christians-and-muslims-are/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [I shake all the time. It's exhausting and causes chronic pain in my joints and muscles. It is also the only life I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/i-shake-all-the-time-it-s-exhausting-and-causes-chronic-pain-in-my/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [I have to tell you, it's very boring, but before I did yoga, I was a stand-up comedian who can't stand up. And now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/i-have-to-tell-you-it-s-very-boring-but-before-i-did-yoga-i-was-a/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [I think that social media has really empowered bullies because you get to do it from the comfort of your own home, completely anonymously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/i-think-that-social-media-has-really-empowered-bullies-because-you/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [From fear to bonding with the audience to getting more open - that's what standup is. It humanises you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/from-fear-to-bonding-with-the-audience-to-getting-more-open-that-s/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [As a comedian, Trump is comedy gold, and he almost makes my job too easy... the stuff that comes out of his mouth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/as-a-comedian-trump-is-comedy-gold-and-he-almost-makes-my-job-too/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [In 2006, I hung out with The Carter Center as they monitored the Palestinian elections. Nobody thought Hamas would win. Hamas did not think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/in-2006-i-hung-out-with-the-carter-center-as-they-monitored-the/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [The United States needs to stop putting Israel's wants above Palestinian rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/the-united-states-needs-to-stop-putting-israel-s-wants-above/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [I am not naive, and I do realize that racism is alive and well in the United States of America. I am also fully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/i-am-not-naive-and-i-do-realize-that-racism-is-alive-and-well-in-the/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [And if I can can, you can can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/and-if-i-can-can-you-can-can/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) [Explore all 52 Maysoon Zayid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "With George Bush, I had absolutely no fear that I would ever be silenced. With Donald Trump, I think I could get dragged offstage and have people actually cheer it. 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