--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Can someone within that society walk into…" description: "\"Can someone within that society walk into the town square and say what they want without fear of being punished for his or her views? If so, then that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/natan-sharansky-14573_fear_can-someone-within-that-society-walk-int_2925614.jpg" --- # Can someone within that society walk into the town square… ![“Can someone within that society walk into the town square and say what they want without fear of being punished for his or her views? If so, then that society is a free society. If not, it is a fear society.” quote by Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/natan-sharansky-14573_fear_can-someone-within-that-society-walk-int_2925614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/natan-sharansky-14573_fear_can-someone-within-that-society-walk-int_2925614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/natan-sharansky-14573_fear_can-someone-within-that-society-walk-int_2925614.jpg) > “Can someone within that society walk into the town square and say what they want without fear of being punished for his or her views? If so, then that society is a free society. If not, it is a fear society.” [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A truly free society allows individuals to express opinions publicly without fear of punishment; otherwise it is oppressive. **In simple terms:** Freedom equals safe open speech. Key Takeaway Protect and practice free expression. Themes freedom society speech rights Mood cautious hopeful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - public debates - online forums - political activism Key Concepts civil liberties democratic theory Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards ensure speech safety? - How do you respond to dissenting views? A Different Perspective Security concerns may limit openness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Free society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-society/) ## Related quotes > [Will dissent be permitted? The answer to that question will determine whether the society is a free society or a fear society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/will-dissent-be-permitted-the-answer-to-that-question-will-determine/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [A simple way to determine whether the right to dissent in a particular society is being upheld is to apply the town square test:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/a-simple-way-to-determine-whether-the-right-to-dissent-in-a/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [My optimism is not based primarily on the successful march of democracy in recent times but rather is based on the experience of having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/my-optimism-is-not-based-primarily-on-the-successful-march-of/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [One cannot live in society and be free from society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/one-cannot-live-in-society-and-be-free-from-society/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [I love America because it is a confused, chaotic mess - and I hope we can keep it this way for at least another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/i-love-america-because-it-is-a-confused-chaotic-mess-and-i-hope-we/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [We need to codify our values and build consensus around what we want from a free society and a free Internet. We need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/we-need-to-codify-our-values-and-build-consensus-around-what-we-want/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [Most of Roosevelt's innovations have been the law of the land for 70 years now, and yet we are still a free society free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/most-of-roosevelt-s-innovations-have-been-the-law-of-the-land-for-70/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [“An anarchist society is by definition a Free Society, but a Free Society is not necessarily Anarchist. It might fall short in several respects.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-meltzer/an-anarchist-society-is-by-definition-a-free-society-but-a-free/) [Albert Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-meltzer/) > [An armed society is a free society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-carr/an-armed-society-is-a-free-society/) [Howie Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-carr/) > [Japan is a well-educated, technological society. It is a free society, protects intellectual property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/japan-is-a-well-educated-technological-society-it-is-a-free-society/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [Once you inject fear into a society of people, they become more and more afraid because they don't cross over the neighbourhoods and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/once-you-inject-fear-into-a-society-of-people-they-become-more-and/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [“I fear we have become a society more interested in writing the quote of another, than living the lesson, and creating a quote of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurman-p-banks-jr/i-fear-we-have-become-a-society-more-interested-in-writing-the-quote/) [Thurman P. Banks Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurman-p-banks-jr/) > [“Fear is a society induced state of confusion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/fear-is-a-society-induced-state-of-confusion/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [People are kept in line in society because they fear punishment. The assumption that underlies this mentality is that a human being will follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/people-are-kept-in-line-in-society-because-they-fear-punishment-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Fear of repeating oneself, of repeating oneself may be the greatest bugaboo of late capitalist society. The fear has been marketed so effectively that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-peacock/fear-of-repeating-oneself-of-repeating-oneself-may-be-the-greatest/) [Jan Peacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-peacock/) ## More by Natan Sharansky > [The only peace that can be made with a dictator is once that must be based on deterrence. For today, the dictator may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/the-only-peace-that-can-be-made-with-a-dictator-is-once-that-must-be/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Democratic leaders, whose power is ultimately dependent on popular support, are held accountable for failing to improve the lives of their citizens. Therefore, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/democratic-leaders-whose-power-is-ultimately-dependent-on-popular/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [On the other hand, if the free world is concerned with how a new Palestinian leader governs, then the peace process will have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/on-the-other-hand-if-the-free-world-is-concerned-with-how-a-new/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [To go again over the history of the struggle of resistance ... and to think 'Where are all these people today Where is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/to-go-again-over-the-history-of-the-struggle-of-resistance-and-to/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Those who warned that Gorbachev was being put under too much pressure were wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/those-who-warned-that-gorbachev-was-being-put-under-too-much-pressure/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Unfortunately, little attention was paid to how Arafat ruled. In fact, some saw the harsh and repressive nature of Arafat's regime as actually bolstering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/unfortunately-little-attention-was-paid-to-how-arafat-ruled-in-fact/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [It is important to remember that some of the most serious thinkers once thought that democracy was not compatible with the cultures of Germany,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/it-is-important-to-remember-that-some-of-the-most-serious-thinkers/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Will dissent be permitted? The answer to that question will determine whether the society is a free society or a fear society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/will-dissent-be-permitted-the-answer-to-that-question-will-determine/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [When did America forget that it's America?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/when-did-america-forget-that-it-s-america/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [They tried their best to find a place where I was isolated. But all the resources of a superpower cannot isolate the man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/they-tried-their-best-to-find-a-place-where-i-was-isolated-but-all/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Japan is not a Western democracy. The Japanese have kept their traditions, culture and heritage, but they have joined the community of free nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/japan-is-not-a-western-democracy-the-japanese-have-kept-their/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Arafat rejected the deal because, as a dictator who had directed all his energies toward strengthening the Palestinians hatred toward Israel, Arafat could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/arafat-rejected-the-deal-because-as-a-dictator-who-had-directed-all/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Of course, there can be serious injustices within free societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/of-course-there-can-be-serious-injustices-within-free-societies/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [My theory is that security - also against terror - can only be accomplished through global democratization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/my-theory-is-that-security-also-against-terror-can-only-be/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Free nations generally look for ways to deal with dictators amicably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/free-nations-generally-look-for-ways-to-deal-with-dictators-amicably/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) [Explore all 46 Natan Sharansky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. But they mix in the middle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/fear-and-desire-for-pleasure-aggressiveness-comes-out-of-fear/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) [Browse all 35,569 Fear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Can someone within that society walk into the town square and say what they want without fear of being punished for his or her views? If so, then that society is a free society. 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