American Quote by Neil Macdonald
“Speech is protected in the U.S., and at the risk of repeating a hackneyed aphorism, free speech is worthless unless it applies to offensive speech. It is an American value, and one well worth protecting.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Commentary, Neil Macdonald, 2018
Free speech must protect all expression, even offensive, to retain its value; limiting it undermines the principle.
In simple terms: Free speech is only valuable when it includes offensive speech.
Key Takeaway
Defend all speech, even uncomfortable.
Themes
freedom
speech
rights
society
Mood
thoughtful
defensive
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political debate
- online forums
- college campuses
- media criticism
Key Concepts
liberalism
civil liberties
public discourse
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we draw the line between protected speech and hate speech?
- What responsibilities accompany free speech?
A Different Perspective
Balancing protection of speech with preventing harm can be difficult.
![“[Lloyd George] said that Harding's speech on American naval aspirations made him feel that he would pawn his shirt rather than allow America to dominate the seas. If this was to be the outcome of the League of Nations propaganda, he was sorry for the world and in particular for America.” quote by David Lloyd George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5fc/david-lloyd-george-9272_america_lloyd-george-said-that-harding-s-speech_795668.jpg)
