--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is frequently said that speech that is…" description: "\"It is frequently said that speech that is intentionally provocative and therefore invites physical retaliation can be punished or suppressed. Yet, plai..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/thomas-i-emerson-53459_audience_it-is-frequently-said-that-speech-that-i_1508605.jpg" --- # It is frequently said that speech that is intentionally… ![“It is frequently said that speech that is intentionally provocative and therefore invites physical retaliation can be punished or suppressed. Yet, plainly no such general proposition can be sustained. Quite the contrary… The provocative nature of the communication does not make it any the less…” quote by Thomas I. Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/thomas-i-emerson-53459_audience_it-is-frequently-said-that-speech-that-i_1508605.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/thomas-i-emerson-53459_audience_it-is-frequently-said-that-speech-that-i_1508605.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/thomas-i-emerson-53459_audience_it-is-frequently-said-that-speech-that-i_1508605.jpg) > “It is frequently said that speech that is intentionally provocative and therefore invites physical retaliation can be punished or suppressed. Yet, plainly no such general proposition can be sustained. Quite the contrary… The provocative nature of the communication does not make it any the less expression. Indeed, the whole theory of free expression contemplates that expression will in many circumstances be provocative and arouse hostility. The audience, just as the speaker, has an obligation to maintain physical restraint.” [Thomas I. Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-i-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Provocative speech is not a justification for violence; restraint belongs to both speaker and audience. **In simple terms:** Provocative speech isn’t excuse for assault. Key Takeaway Protect speech, enforce non‑violence. Themes free speech responsibility violence provocation rights Mood tense reflective Type ethical legal When to use this quote - political rallies - online debates - public protests - media commentary Key Concepts civil discourse social contract legal limits Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance provocative expression with public safety? - What duties do listeners have when faced with hostile speech? A Different Perspective Violent reactions can still suppress ideas despite legal protections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Circumstances Provocative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances-provocative-5547454/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Contemplating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplating/) [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Contrary Provocative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary-provocative-5547456/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Free expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-expression/) [Hostility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostility/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Intentionally Provocative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentionally-provocative-5547452/) [Invites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invites/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Physical Retaliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-retaliation-5547455/) [Propositions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propositions/) [Provocative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provocative/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Restraint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restraint/) [Retaliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retaliation/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Speakers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speakers/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Speech Intentionally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech-intentionally-5547453/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [“Character gains through its expression, and loses through its repression. Love grows through its expression. Sympathy grows through its expression. Knowledge grows through its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay-trumbull/character-gains-through-its-expression-and-loses-through-its/) [Henry Clay Trumbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay-trumbull/) > [“I look forward to the day when our country will be a land of free expression: a country where the words of each citizen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-osnos/i-look-forward-to-the-day-when-our-country-will-be-a-land-of-free/) [Evan Osnos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-osnos/) > [Freedom demands that we struggle for an extension of both equality and free expression, not regard one as inimical to the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-malik/freedom-demands-that-we-struggle-for-an-extension-of-both-equality/) [Kenan Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenan-malik/) > [I have I guess 3 passions. One is the Constitution. 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And even if there were to be something called sacred, we mere primates wouldn't be able to decide which book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/no-nothing-is-sacred-and-even-if-there-were-to-be-something-called/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To curtail free expression strikes twice at intellectual freedom, for whoever deprives another of the right to state unpopular views necessarily deprives others of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-vann-woodward/to-curtail-free-expression-strikes-twice-at-intellectual-freedom-for/) [C. Vann Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-vann-woodward/) > [Any test that turns on what is offensive to the community's standards is too loose, too capricious, too destructive of freedom of expression to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/any-test-that-turns-on-what-is-offensive-to-the-community-s-standards/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [How odd that the proponents of free expression think 'free' only applies to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/how-odd-that-the-proponents-of-free-expression-think-free-only/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [“In our haste to disseminate news, it should not be forgotten that the Framers intended copyright itself to be the engine of free expression.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-weinstock-netanel/in-our-haste-to-disseminate-news-it-should-not-be-forgotten-that-the/) [Neil Weinstock Netanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-weinstock-netanel/) > [The Human Rights Act is not a terrorists' charter. It enables ordinary citizens to seek redress when the government breaches fundamental freedoms enshrined in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/the-human-rights-act-is-not-a-terrorists-charter-it-enables-ordinary/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [ \[Christian rebellion\] arises from the doctrine of mankind made in the image of God, and therefore protests against all forms of dehumanization. It sets… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/christian-rebellion-arises-from-the-doctrine-of-mankind-made-in-the/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [After the revolution the borders were left open. Pens were free, expression was free, political parties were free. 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Emerson > [The right to freedom of expression is justified first of all as the right of an individual purely in his capacity as an individual.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-i-emerson/the-right-to-freedom-of-expression-is-justified-first-of-all-as-the/) [Thomas I. Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-i-emerson/) > [The Right of all members of society to form their own beliefs and communicate them freely to others must be regarded as an essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-i-emerson/the-right-of-all-members-of-society-to-form-their-own-beliefs-and/) [Thomas I. Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-i-emerson/) > [The function of the censor is to censor. He has a professional interest in finding things to suppress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-i-emerson/the-function-of-the-censor-is-to-censor-he-has-a-professional/) [Thomas I. Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-i-emerson/) > [Suppression of expression conceals the real problems confronting a society and diverts public attention from the critical issues. It is likely to result in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-i-emerson/suppression-of-expression-conceals-the-real-problems-confronting-a/) [Thomas I. Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-i-emerson/) > [Once one accepts the premise of the Declaration of Independence - that governments derive "their just powers from the consent of the governed" -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-i-emerson/once-one-accepts-the-premise-of-the-declaration-of-independence-that/) [Thomas I. Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-i-emerson/) [Explore all 6 Thomas I. Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-i-emerson/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! 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