--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dissent is not sacred; the right of…" description: "\"Dissent is not sacred; the right of dissent is.\" — Thurman Arnold" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/thurman-arnold-51682_dissent_dissent-is-not-sacred-the-right-of-disse_1370704.jpg" --- # Dissent is not sacred; the right of dissent is. ![“Dissent is not sacred; the right of dissent is.” quote by Thurman Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/thurman-arnold-51682_dissent_dissent-is-not-sacred-the-right-of-disse_1370704.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/thurman-arnold-51682_dissent_dissent-is-not-sacred-the-right-of-disse_1370704.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/thurman-arnold-51682_dissent_dissent-is-not-sacred-the-right-of-disse_1370704.jpg) > “Dissent is not sacred; the right of dissent is.” [Thurman Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurman-arnold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dissent is vital, but its sanctity is not inherent; the right to disagree is what must be protected. **In simple terms:** The right to disagree matters, not the act itself. Key Takeaway Protect the right to disagree. Themes freedom rights politics Mood critical concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - protests - public forums - policy discussions - academic discourse Key Concepts civil liberty ethical debate democratic principles Questions to Reflect On - When does dissent become dangerous? - How can societies balance free speech and safety? A Different Perspective Dissent can be misused to spread harmful ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dissent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissent/) [Dissent Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissent-sacred-4719425/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Right Dissent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-dissent-843810/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Sacred Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred-right-398889/) ## Related quotes > [We may be so eager to protect the right to dissent that we lose sight of the difference between dissent and subversion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/we-may-be-so-eager-to-protect-the-right-to-dissent-that-we-lose-sight/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [Free societies are societies in which the right of dissent is protected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/free-societies-are-societies-in-which-the-right-of-dissent-is/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [A simple way to determine whether the right to dissent in a particular society is being upheld is to apply the town square test:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/a-simple-way-to-determine-whether-the-right-to-dissent-in-a/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [The right to dissent is the only thing that makes life tolerable for a judge of an appellate court... the affairs of government could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-right-to-dissent-is-the-only-thing-that-makes-life-tolerable-for/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [“Before a new authority can be set up in the place of one that exists, there is an interval when the right of dissent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-new-authority-can-be-set-up-in-the-place-of-one-that-exists/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Religious freedom is too sacred a right to be restricted or prohibited in any degree without convincing proof that a legitimate interest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-murphy/religious-freedom-is-too-sacred-a-right-to-be-restricted-or/) [Frank Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-murphy/) > [Never forget that the most sacred right on this earth is mans right to have the earth to till with his own hands, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/never-forget-that-the-most-sacred-right-on-this-earth-is-mans-right/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Dissent in art is a fundamental right. But if it is dissent about a book, a piece of art, and if you don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shabana-azmi/dissent-in-art-is-a-fundamental-right-but-if-it-is-dissent-about-a/) [Shabana Azmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shabana-azmi/) > [“Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government, and form a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/any-people-anywhere-being-inclined-and-having-the-power-have-the-2/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [No more fatuous chimera has ever infested the brain than that you can control opinions by law or direct belief by statute, and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-borah/no-more-fatuous-chimera-has-ever-infested-the-brain-than-that-you-can/) [William Borah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-borah/) > [“any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/any-people-anywhere-being-inclined-and-having-the-power-have-the/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [Nothing is sacred, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-kirshner/nothing-is-sacred-right/) [Mia Kirshner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-kirshner/) > [Virtually every civilized society today holds sacred the right to peaceably bury their dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-schmidt/virtually-every-civilized-society-today-holds-sacred-the-right-to/) [Mike Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-schmidt/) > [“Even a superstitious man has certain inalienable rights. He has a right to harbor and indulge his imbecilities as long as he pleases, provided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-t-joshi/even-a-superstitious-man-has-certain-inalienable-rights-he-has-a/) [S.T. Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-t-joshi/) > [Even a superstitious man has certain inalienable rights: the right to harbor and indulge his imbecilities, provided only that he does not try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/even-a-superstitious-man-has-certain-inalienable-rights-the-right-to/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) ## More by Thurman Arnold > [The US has developed two coordinate governing classes: the one, called 'business,' building cities, manufacturing and distributing goods, and holding complete and autocratic power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurman-arnold/the-us-has-developed-two-coordinate-governing-classes-the-one-called/) [Thurman Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurman-arnold/) > [No rage is equal to the rage of a contented right-thinking man when he is confronted in the marketplace by an idea which belongs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurman-arnold/no-rage-is-equal-to-the-rage-of-a-contented-right-thinking-man-when/) [Thurman Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurman-arnold/) > [Economic theology is the opiate of the middle classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurman-arnold/economic-theology-is-the-opiate-of-the-middle-classes/) [Thurman Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurman-arnold/) > [It is a part of the function of "law" to give recognition to ideas representing the exact opposite of established conduct. Most of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurman-arnold/it-is-a-part-of-the-function-of-law-to-give-recognition-to-ideas/) [Thurman Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurman-arnold/) > [The spectacle of a judge pouring over the picture of some nude, trying to ascertain the extent to which she arouses prurient interests, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurman-arnold/the-spectacle-of-a-judge-pouring-over-the-picture-of-some-nude-trying/) [Thurman Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurman-arnold/) > [Unhappy is a people that has run out of words to describe what is going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurman-arnold/unhappy-is-a-people-that-has-run-out-of-words-to-describe-what-is/) [Thurman Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurman-arnold/) [Explore all 7 Thurman Arnold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurman-arnold/) ## More Dissent quotes > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you want to live a meaningfully better life, you're going to have to make the dangerous choice to dissent. A life lived meaningfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/if-you-want-to-live-a-meaningfully-better-life-you-re-going-to-have/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/never-be-afraid-to-raise-your-voice-for-honesty-and-truth-and/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [I find myself frequently placed where I dare give neither assent nor dissent to propositions that are submitted to me; for there is danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/i-find-myself-frequently-placed-where-i-dare-give-neither-assent-nor/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [The original crime of niggers and lesbians is that they prefer themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-original-crime-of-niggers-and-lesbians-is-that-they-prefer/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [It is dissent from government policies which defines the true Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/it-is-dissent-from-government-policies-which-defines-the-true-patriot/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [In America, you can segregate the people, but the problems will travel. From slavery to equal rights, from state suppression of dissent to crime,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people-but-the-problems-will-travel/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [America was born of revolt, flourished in dissent, became great through experimentation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-steele-commager/america-was-born-of-revolt-flourished-in-dissent-became-great-through/) [Henry Steele Commager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-steele-commager/) > [“I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/i-am-aware-that-many-object-to-the-severity-of-my-language-but-is/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [In religion, it is not the sycophants or those who cling most faithfully to the status quo who are ultimately praised. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/in-religion-it-is-not-the-sycophants-or-those-who-cling-most/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [“Protection, therefore, against tyranny of the magistrate is not enough: there needs protection also against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling; against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/protection-therefore-against-tyranny-of-the-magistrate-is-not-enough/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [The intolerant man will not rely on persuasion, or on the worth of the idea. He would deny to others the very freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/the-intolerant-man-will-not-rely-on-persuasion-or-on-the-worth-of-the/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) > [“That there must be heresies is true, not onely in our Church, but also in any other; even in Doctrines hereticall there will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/that-there-must-be-heresies-is-true-not-onely-in-our-church-but-also/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [In sum, the Court's conclusion that a constitutionally adequate recount is impractical is a prophecy the Court's own judgment will not allow to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/in-sum-the-court-s-conclusion-that-a-constitutionally-adequate/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [Lonely dissent doesn't feel like going to school dressed in black. It feels like going to school wearing a clown suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/lonely-dissent-doesn-t-feel-like-going-to-school-dressed-in-black-it/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) [Browse all 440 Dissent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dissent is not sacred; the right of dissent is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thurman Arnold" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurman-arnold/dissent-is-not-sacred-the-right-of-dissent-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dissent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurman-arnold/dissent-is-not-sacred-the-right-of-dissent-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/thurman-arnold-51682_dissent_dissent-is-not-sacred-the-right-of-disse_1370704.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/thurman-arnold-51682_dissent_dissent-is-not-sacred-the-right-of-disse_1370704.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/228/thurman-arnold-51682_dissent_dissent-is-not-sacred-the-right-of-disse_1370704.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dissent is not sacred; the right of dissent is.” — Thurman Arnold", "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": "Thurman Arnold", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurman-arnold/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Dissent is not sacred; the right...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurman-arnold/dissent-is-not-sacred-the-right-of-dissent-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurman-arnold/dissent-is-not-sacred-the-right-of-dissent-is/#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 } } ] } ```