Absolute freedom Quote by Robert Green Ingersoll
“I am a believer in liberty . That is my religion to give to every other human being every right that I claim for myself, and I grant to every other human being, not the right because it is his right but instead of granting I declare that it is his right, to attack every doctrine that I maintain, to answer every argument that I may urge in other words, he must have absolute freedom of speech.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Liberty, 1885
Liberty is a personal creed: everyone deserves the same rights you claim, especially free speech to challenge ideas.
In simple terms: Freedom means granting others the same rights you claim, especially speech.
Key Takeaway
Treat others’ rights as your own.
Themes
freedom
rights
speech
equality
Mood
passionate
defiant
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political debate
- academic discourse
- online forums
- public protests
- legal advocacy
Key Concepts
liberalism
individualism
civil liberty
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance absolute speech with protecting vulnerable groups?
- When should speech be limited for societal safety?
A Different Perspective
Absolute free speech can clash with hate speech laws and public safety.
![“[ Alexis de] Tocqueville said it in 1835, and it's as true today as it was then: 'Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot. Religion is more needed in democratic societies than in any other.'” quote by Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c40/paul-kengor-14302_alexis_alexis-de-tocqueville-said-it-in-1835-an_1540411.jpg)
