--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a fine line, but one that can, and…" description: "\"“It's a fine line, but one that can, and must, be walked. Calling attention to, challenging, and educating the public about objectionable ideas or peop..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/tammy-bruce-12428_fine-line_it-s-a-fine-line-but-one-that-can-and-mu_3153862.png" --- # It's a fine line, but one that can, and must, be walked… ![“It's a fine line, but one that can, and must, be walked. Calling attention to, challenging, and educating the public about objectionable ideas or people is a fundamental necessity in our society. When we begin, however, to demand the silencing of someone because we're offended by his or her…” quote by Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/tammy-bruce-12428_fine-line_it-s-a-fine-line-but-one-that-can-and-mu_3153862.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/tammy-bruce-12428_fine-line_it-s-a-fine-line-but-one-that-can-and-mu_3153862.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/tammy-bruce-12428_fine-line_it-s-a-fine-line-but-one-that-can-and-mu_3153862.png) > ““It's a fine line, but one that can, and must, be walked. Calling attention to, challenging, and educating the public about objectionable ideas or people is a fundamental necessity in our society. When we begin, however, to demand the silencing of someone because we're offended by his or her opinion, we've crossed the line.”” [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocating for open debate while warning against silencing dissenting opinions. **In simple terms:** Speak up but don’t demand bans. Key Takeaway Balance free speech with responsibility. Themes free speech responsibility public discourse Mood thoughtful cautious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political debates - social media - academic forums Key Concepts censorship civil discourse Questions to Reflect On - When does protecting feelings become censorship? - How can we encourage dialogue without harm? A Different Perspective Silencing can protect minorities but may also suppress truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demand Silencing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand-silencing-5673825/) [Fine line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine-line/) [Objectionable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objectionable-604005/) [Offended Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offended-opinion-4247877/) [Public Objectionable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-objectionable-5673824/) [Silencing Offended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silencing-offended-5673823/) ## Related quotes > [Oh, I offended you with my opinion? You should hear the ones I keep to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-i-offended-you-with-my-opinion-you-should-hear-the-ones-i-keep-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When people get extremely offended by your opinion and hate you for no reason...dude everyone has their own opinion so be mature please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-people-get-extremely-offended-by-your-opinion-and-hate-you-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Oh, I offended you with my opinion? You should hear the the ones I keep to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patsy-cline/oh-i-offended-you-with-my-opinion-you-should-hear-the-the-ones-i-keep/) [Patsy Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patsy-cline/) > [Only weak minded people get offended at someone's opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-weak-minded-people-get-offended-at-someone-s-opinion/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Now dont be offended this is all my opinion. Aint nothing that Im saying law. This is a true confession. Of a life learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie/now-dont-be-offended-this-is-all-my-opinion-aint-nothing-that-im/) [India Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie/) > [There are female dandies as well as clothes-wearing men; and the former are as objectionable as the latter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/there-are-female-dandies-as-well-as-clothes-wearing-men-and-the/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [ Consider the sexual harassment which continually occurs between a secretary and a boss . . . while objectionable to many women, \[it\] is not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-block/consider-the-sexual-harassment-which-continually-occurs-between-a/) [Walter Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-block/) > [There are few nudities so objectionable as the naked truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/there-are-few-nudities-so-objectionable-as-the-naked-truth/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [I supported some very, very objectionable things in terms of bailouts or rescues, but I did it not for Wall Street, but for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/i-supported-some-very-very-objectionable-things-in-terms-of-bailouts/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [DISCRIMINATE, v.i. To note the particulars in which one person or thing is, if possible, more objectionable than another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/discriminate-v-i-to-note-the-particulars-in-which-one-person-or-thing/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There is no shortage of objectionable Iranian behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/there-is-no-shortage-of-objectionable-iranian-behavior/) [Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/) > [ Calvin \[Trillin\] has never done anything majorly objectionable. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-sessums/calvin-trillin-has-never-done-anything-majorly-objectionable/) [Kevin Sessums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-sessums/) > [“Servitude of any sort is distasteful to all men, but especially objectionable is subjection to others in the case of those who ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulrich-von-hutten/servitude-of-any-sort-is-distasteful-to-all-men-but-especially/) [Ulrich von Hutten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulrich-von-hutten/) > [What the Japanese are, are the Americans of the 21st century. Essentially what is objectionable about them is what was objectionable about Americans when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/what-the-japanese-are-are-the-americans-of-the-21st-century/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [“But oftentimes, Sofia, our best course of action appears objectionable at the first step. In fact, it almost always does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/but-oftentimes-sofia-our-best-course-of-action-appears-objectionable/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) ## More by Tammy Bruce > [The liberal feminist movement never imagined that women would take seriously the encouragement to become our own heroes and claim life for ourselves, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/the-liberal-feminist-movement-never-imagined-that-women-would-take/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [“The Left Elite has worked for years to brainwash us into a sort of values lobotomy. We are not to judge those who kill,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/the-left-elite-has-worked-for-years-to-brainwash-us-into-a-sort-of/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [Unfortunately, what many people forget is that judges are just lawyers in robes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/unfortunately-what-many-people-forget-is-that-judges-are-just-lawyers/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [Horrible things happen when you run out of other people's money, and life and work becomes a burden when there is no reward for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/horrible-things-happen-when-you-run-out-of-other-people-s-money-and/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [Remember, social progress only happens when those in society's privileged classes choose to give up their status.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/remember-social-progress-only-happens-when-those-in-society-s/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [The American Left complains that we have no right to be the world's police force. On the contrary. We've been the world's janitor for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/the-american-left-complains-that-we-have-no-right-to-be-the-world-s/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [One of the biggest problems with the modern feminist movement is its failure to bring men along with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/one-of-the-biggest-problems-with-the-modern-feminist-movement-is-its/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [The question we all face is what sort of culture we will live in for the rest of our lives and then hand on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/the-question-we-all-face-is-what-sort-of-culture-we-will-live-in-for/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [“By defining society not as an entity made up of individual people but as a collection of cultures--such as white culture, black culture, Hispanic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/by-defining-society-not-as-an-entity-made-up-of-individual-people-but/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [For those whose goal it is to twist wrong into right, a good starting point is to convince young people that the vulgar is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/for-those-whose-goal-it-is-to-twist-wrong-into-right-a-good-starting/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [But revealing yourself as ignorant apparently gives one extraordinary credibility on the left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/but-revealing-yourself-as-ignorant-apparently-gives-one-extraordinary/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [In politics, the reaction to a controversy is very often more enlightening and important than the details of the allegations themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/in-politics-the-reaction-to-a-controversy-is-very-often-more/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [With every kind of birth control available in the world, abortion is not something to be proud of. If you need an abortion, you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/with-every-kind-of-birth-control-available-in-the-world-abortion-is/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [“What started as a struggle for equal rights and a more color-blind society has turned into a major industry--the victim industry. Like the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/what-started-as-a-struggle-for-equal-rights-and-a-more-color-blind/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [“The FBI is also investigating the numerous death threats against Dr. Laura herself, which began with the initiation of the gay campaign and ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/the-fbi-is-also-investigating-the-numerous-death-threats-against-dr/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) [Explore all 55 Tammy Bruce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) ## More Fine line quotes > [We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-nafta-can-work-better-but-it-s-a/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [Your deeper sense isn’t a springboard; it’s a landing place. If you draw conclusions too quickly or too slowly, you’ll establish your self where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/your-deeper-sense-isn-t-a-springboard-it-s-a-landing-place-if-you/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [My mom. Growing up with her, she always taught us to say whatever. Like, 'You think something, say it. Don't bite your tongue for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/draymond-green/my-mom-growing-up-with-her-she-always-taught-us-to-say-whatever-like/) [Draymond Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/draymond-green/) > [“There is a fine line between compassion and a victim mentality. Compassion though is a healing force and comes from a place of kindness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/there-is-a-fine-line-between-compassion-and-a-victim-mentality/) [Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/) > [There's always a fine line that divides hostility from neutrality, and I don't want to pass that line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-dwight/there-s-always-a-fine-line-that-divides-hostility-from-neutrality-and/) [Ed Dwight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-dwight/) > [“Zam watched as the creature began to fade, until it disappeared altogether and all that remained was his own reflection in the mirror. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lambert/zam-watched-as-the-creature-began-to-fade-until-it-disappeared/) [Frank Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lambert/) > [There's a fine line between being there for someone & kissing their ass looking stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-a-fine-line-between-being-there-for-someone-kissing-their-ass/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Theres a very fine line between pleasure and pain. They are two sides of the same coin, one not existing without the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/50-shdes-of-grey/theres-a-very-fine-line-between-pleasure-and-pain-they-are-two-sides/) [50 Shdes Of Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/50-shdes-of-grey/) > [Before you can grow up, you must fall in love 3 times. Once you must fall in love with your best friend, ruining your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/before-you-can-grow-up-you-must-fall-in-love-3-times-once-you-must/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Where I've arrived now is the product of mixing the very straight with the very exploratory; there's a fine line between the two, although…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-partridge/where-i-ve-arrived-now-is-the-product-of-mixing-the-very-straight/) [Andy Partridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-partridge/) > [That's the beauty of this great sport (track), though-it's such a fine line between success or not, which makes the sweet moments that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-willis/that-s-the-beauty-of-this-great-sport-track-though-it-s-such-a-fine/) [Nick Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-willis/) > [They say theres a fine line between genius and insanity. If a man thinks he can write, does that make him genius or insane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-miller/they-say-theres-a-fine-line-between-genius-and-insanity-if-a-man/) [John Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-miller/) > [It is a fine line between communicating and being too chummy. My players, when I've been promoted, have been upset by top-flight refs being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/it-is-a-fine-line-between-communicating-and-being-too-chummy-my/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [People say I am a little bit weird with the way I go about things, it's a fine line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-smith/people-say-i-am-a-little-bit-weird-with-the-way-i-go-about-things-it/) [Steve Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-smith/) > [“There's a fine line, you know. Between having space and having nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-corlett/there-s-a-fine-line-you-know-between-having-space-and-having-nothing/) [Anne Corlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-corlett/) [Browse all 509 Fine line quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine-line/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It's a fine line, but one that can, and must, be walked. Calling attention to, challenging, and educating the public about objectionable ideas or people is a fundamental necessity in our society. When we begin, however, to demand the silencing of someone because we're offended by his or her opinion, we've crossed the line.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tammy Bruce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/it-s-a-fine-line-but-one-that-can-and-must-be-walked-calling/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fine line" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/it-s-a-fine-line-but-one-that-can-and-must-be-walked-calling/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/tammy-bruce-12428_fine-line_it-s-a-fine-line-but-one-that-can-and-mu_3153862.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/tammy-bruce-12428_fine-line_it-s-a-fine-line-but-one-that-can-and-mu_3153862.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/tammy-bruce-12428_fine-line_it-s-a-fine-line-but-one-that-can-and-mu_3153862.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's a fine line, but one that can, and must, be walked. Calling attention to, challenging, and educating…” — Tammy Bruce", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tammy Bruce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It's a fine line, but one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/it-s-a-fine-line-but-one-that-can-and-must-be-walked-calling/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/it-s-a-fine-line-but-one-that-can-and-must-be-walked-calling/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```