Freedom Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
““But if there be a country which cannot stand any one of these tests, — a country where knowledge cannot be diffused without perils of mob-law and statute-law; where speech is not free; where the post-office is violated, mail-bags opened, and letters tampered with; where public debts and private debts outside of the State are repudiated; where liberty is attacked in the primary institution of social life; where the position of the white woman is injuriously affected by the outlawry of the black woman; where the arts, such as they have, are all imported, having no indigenous life; where the laborer is not secured in the earnings of his own hands; where suffrage is not free or equal; — that country is, in all these respects, not civil, but barbarous; and no advantages of soil, climate, or coast can resist these suicidal mischiefs.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “Civilization” in The Atlantic Monthly, 1845
A society that suppresses free speech, honest communication, equal rights, and economic independence is uncivilized despite any natural advantages.
In simple terms: Lack of liberty and equality makes a nation barbaric.
Key Takeaway
Protect and promote civil liberties and equal rights.
Themes
freedom
equality
civil rights
justice
culture
Mood
concerned
critical
Type
political
social
When to use this quote
- voting rights
- press freedom
- labor rights
- racial equality
- artistic expression
Key Concepts
democracy
rule of law
social contract
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How does restricting speech affect societal health?
- What steps can restore civil liberties?
A Different Perspective
Even with resources, oppression undermines civilization.
