--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is, in theory, still a free country…" description: "\"This is, in theory, still a free country, but our politically correct, censorious times are such that many of us tremble to give vent to perfectly acce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/simon-heffer-45158_acceptable_this-is-in-theory-still-a-free-country-b_2282737.png" --- # This is, in theory, still a free country, but our… ![“This is, in theory, still a free country, but our politically correct, censorious times are such that many of us tremble to give vent to perfectly acceptable views for fear of condemnation. Freedom of speech is thereby imperiled, big questions go undebated, and great lies become accepted…” quote by Simon Heffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/simon-heffer-45158_acceptable_this-is-in-theory-still-a-free-country-b_2282737.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/simon-heffer-45158_acceptable_this-is-in-theory-still-a-free-country-b_2282737.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/simon-heffer-45158_acceptable_this-is-in-theory-still-a-free-country-b_2282737.png) > “This is, in theory, still a free country, but our politically correct, censorious times are such that many of us tremble to give vent to perfectly acceptable views for fear of condemnation. Freedom of speech is thereby imperiled, big questions go undebated, and great lies become accepted, unequivocally as great truths.” [Simon Heffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-heffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern political correctness suppresses dissent, risking unchallenged falsehoods and weakened free speech. **In simple terms:** Censorship hinders truth. Key Takeaway Speak up despite fear. Themes speech politics truth Mood critical concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - debates - academic forums - social media - legislative hearings Key Concepts censorship public discourse Questions to Reflect On - What are constructive ways to challenge prevailing narratives? - How can societies protect free speech while respecting dignity? 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Freedom from Condemnation. Freedom to the Promises, Freedom to the Throne of Grace, and at last Freedom to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/o-what-a-freedom-is-thine-freedom-from-condemnation-freedom-to-the/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [I first started asking big questions when I was 12, and by big questions, I mean, 'Why are we here? What is this business?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/i-first-started-asking-big-questions-when-i-was-12-and-by-big/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [I started asking the big questions that I had asked in college, that my compatriots the Greek philosophers had asked, like 'what is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/i-started-asking-the-big-questions-that-i-had-asked-in-college-that/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [The world of money, of numbers and stock markets and interest rates and credit cards, seems on the surface about as far as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/the-world-of-money-of-numbers-and-stock-markets-and-interest-rates/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [In a very small way, painting addresses the 'Big Questions' to which we'll never find the answers. You do what you have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-messer/in-a-very-small-way-painting-addresses-the-big-questions-to-which-we/) [Sam Messer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-messer/) > [I've always been into asking the big questions; I'm the last guy out the door at closing time cuz I was sittin' around 'til…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-kowalczyk/i-ve-always-been-into-asking-the-big-questions-i-m-the-last-guy-out/) [Ed Kowalczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-kowalczyk/) > [I do find that I tend to write about big questions. Why are we here? What are we doing? How do we relate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-fallon/i-do-find-that-i-tend-to-write-about-big-questions-why-are-we-here/) [Brian Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-fallon/) > ['Why are we here?' 'What is our purpose? 'Is there an afterlife?' 'Is there a God?' 'Is it all about science?' Those are big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/why-are-we-here-what-is-our-purpose-is-there-an-afterlife-is-there-a/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/do-those-things-that-incline-you-toward-the-big-questions-and-avoid/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I like the big questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-turlington/i-like-the-big-questions/) [Christy Turlington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-turlington/) > [Religion gives you a sense of certainty. It makes you feel that you have the right answers to really big questions and that youve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-heckman/religion-gives-you-a-sense-of-certainty-it-makes-you-feel-that-you/) [James Heckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-heckman/) > [I love Big Themes. Films that ask big questions about technology, society, mortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-ackie/i-love-big-themes-films-that-ask-big-questions-about-technology/) [Naomi Ackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-ackie/) > [I have no doubt, if people are really seeking the big questions, it will lead them to the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/i-have-no-doubt-if-people-are-really-seeking-the-big-questions-it/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Many people in their teens wonder about these big questions - what's the meaning of life, what are we doing here - then somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/many-people-in-their-teens-wonder-about-these-big-questions-what-s/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > ['SoulPancake' is a website that I founded with a couple of friends, and it is for exploring life's big questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/soulpancake-is-a-website-that-i-founded-with-a-couple-of-friends-and/) [Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/) ## More by Simon Heffer > [In England, even the poorest of people believe that they have rights; that is very different from what satisfies the poor in other lands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-heffer/in-england-even-the-poorest-of-people-believe-that-they-have-rights/) [Simon Heffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-heffer/) > [The more a climate can be created in which neither the English nor the Scots are given cause to resent each other, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-heffer/the-more-a-climate-can-be-created-in-which-neither-the-english-nor/) [Simon Heffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-heffer/) > [Political genius consists in identifying oneself with a principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-heffer/political-genius-consists-in-identifying-oneself-with-a-principle/) [Simon Heffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-heffer/) > [Football is not, in my view, a sport: it is somewhere between a business racket and a mental illness. 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By far the highest casualty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-heffer/of-the-664-men-who-rode-into-the-valley-of-death-about-540-eventually/) [Simon Heffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-heffer/) > [Those Victorians: endlessly fascinating, broad in their learning, heroic in their achievements, in parts completely mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-heffer/those-victorians-endlessly-fascinating-broad-in-their-learning-heroic/) [Simon Heffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-heffer/) [Explore all 9 Simon Heffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-heffer/) ## More Acceptable quotes > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. 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Which is why our actions must always be acceptable in themselves, and not as strategies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-heilbrun/we-cannot-guess-the-outcome-of-our-actions-which-is-why-our-actions/) [Carolyn Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-heilbrun/) > [In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elections-like-2008-just-are/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [It's horrible how money and fame can make you acceptable while, if you're not famous or rich, you're not acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/it-s-horrible-how-money-and-fame-can-make-you-acceptable-while-if-you/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [We get used to a certain kind of colour of form or format, and it's acceptable. 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