--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I agree with everything you say, but I…" description: "\"“I agree with everything you say, but I would attack to the death your right to say it. ”\" — Tom Stoppard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/tom-stoppard-437_death_i-agree-with-everything-you-say-but-i-wo_2266698.png" --- # I agree with everything you say, but I would attack to the… ![“I agree with everything you say, but I would attack to the death your right to say it.” quote by Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/tom-stoppard-437_death_i-agree-with-everything-you-say-but-i-wo_2266698.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/tom-stoppard-437_death_i-agree-with-everything-you-say-but-i-wo_2266698.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/tom-stoppard-437_death_i-agree-with-everything-you-say-but-i-wo_2266698.png) > ““I agree with everything you say, but I would attack to the death your right to say it. ”” [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Defending free speech is vital, even when you disagree with the content. **In simple terms:** Protect speech rights even if you oppose the message. Key Takeaway Uphold free expression despite disagreement. Themes free speech rights dialogue Mood defensive critical Type ethical political When to use this quote - political discourse - media - education - legal contexts Key Concepts civil liberties ethical debate tolerance Questions to Reflect On - When should speech be limited? - How do you handle offensive viewpoints? A Different Perspective Free speech can spread harmful ideas; balance with responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ## Related quotes > [I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/i-may-not-agree-with-what-you-have-to-say-but-i-will-defend-to-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/i-do-not-agree-with-what-you-have-to-say-but-i-ll-defend-to-the-death/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [If you don't have anything useful to say then you attack people. If you feel that your house of cards has been discovered and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/if-you-don-t-have-anything-useful-to-say-then-you-attack-people-if/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [“Something happened and I confirmed it. Or I did not write it. There is no seems. I did not say the attack was anti-white.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-flaherty/something-happened-and-i-confirmed-it-or-i-did-not-write-it-there-is/) [Colin Flaherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-flaherty/) > [I keep warning and warning, and nobody seems willing to listen. One of these days someone is going to wake up to the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-arthur/i-keep-warning-and-warning-and-nobody-seems-willing-to-listen-one-of/) [Keri Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-arthur/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [Paradise is not somewhere else... it is within you. And it is not in some other time, after death... It is in you right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/paradise-is-not-somewhere-else-it-is-within-you-and-it-is-not-in-some/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Death, when it's right there it doesn't seem too huge and terrible to let into your mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-thomas/death-when-it-s-right-there-it-doesn-t-seem-too-huge-and-terrible-to/) [Rosie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-thomas/) > [“I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an ass of yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-may-not-agree-with-you-but-i-will-defend-to-the-death-your-right-to/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [In fact, I would defend to the death their right to express a different point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/in-fact-i-would-defend-to-the-death-their-right-to-express-a/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I looked Death right in the face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-barker/i-looked-death-right-in-the-face/) [Travis Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-barker/) > [I think death has a right to its own courage and dignity and self-respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adela-rogers-st-johns/i-think-death-has-a-right-to-its-own-courage-and-dignity-and-self/) [Adela Rogers St. Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adela-rogers-st-johns/) > [Everybody says they're opposed to torture. But everyone would do it personally if they knew it could save the life of a kidnapped child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/everybody-says-they-re-opposed-to-torture-but-everyone-would-do-it/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [As long as a man lives he should study. Death alone has the right to dismiss the school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/as-long-as-a-man-lives-he-should-study-death-alone-has-the-right-to/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I will defend, to your death, my right to my opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-defend-to-your-death-my-right-to-my-opinion/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Tom Stoppard > [If I wanted to change the world, the last thing I would do is write a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-i-wanted-to-change-the-world-the-last-thing-i-would-do-is-write-a/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [If you want to change something by Tuesday, theater is no good. Journalism is what does that. But, if you want to just alter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-you-want-to-change-something-by-tuesday-theater-is-no-good/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [After all these years, I definitely associate having a pen in my hand with having an ashtray just out of eye line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/after-all-these-years-i-definitely-associate-having-a-pen-in-my-hand/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [The universe is deterministic all right, just like Newton said, I mean it's trying to be, but the only thing going wrong is people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/the-universe-is-deterministic-all-right-just-like-newton-said-i-mean/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [For me, human rights simply endorse a view of life and a set of moral values that are perfectly clear to an eight-year-old child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/for-me-human-rights-simply-endorse-a-view-of-life-and-a-set-of-moral/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“What is an artist? For every thousand people there's nine hundred doing the work, ninety doing well, nine doing good, and one lucky bastard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/what-is-an-artist-for-every-thousand-people-there-s-nine-hundred/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Dying is not romantic, and death is not a game which will soon be over... Death is not anything... death is not... It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/dying-is-not-romantic-and-death-is-not-a-game-which-will-soon-be-over/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I'm not interested in clothes; I just like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-m-not-interested-in-clothes-i-just-like-them/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [For 10 years of my life, 3 times a day, I thanked the Lord for what I was about to receive and thanked him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/for-10-years-of-my-life-3-times-a-day-i-thanked-the-lord-for-what-i/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [You should not translate for more than two hours at a time. After that, you lose your edge, the language becomes clumsy, rigid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/you-should-not-translate-for-more-than-two-hours-at-a-time-after-that/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [No matter how imperfect things are, if you've got a free press everything is correctable, and without it everything is concealable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/no-matter-how-imperfect-things-are-if-you-ve-got-a-free-press/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [We must be born with an intuition of mortality. Before we know the word for it. Before we know that there are words. Out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-must-be-born-with-an-intuition-of-mortality-before-we-know-the/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Eternity's a terrible thought. I mean, where's it all going to end?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/eternity-s-a-terrible-thought-i-mean-where-s-it-all-going-to-end/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [There is truth and falsehood in a comma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/there-is-truth-and-falsehood-in-a-comma/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) [Explore all 559 Tom Stoppard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I agree with everything you say, but I would attack to the death your right to say it. ”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Stoppard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-agree-with-everything-you-say-but-i-would-attack-to-the-death-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-agree-with-everything-you-say-but-i-would-attack-to-the-death-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/tom-stoppard-437_death_i-agree-with-everything-you-say-but-i-wo_2266698.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/tom-stoppard-437_death_i-agree-with-everything-you-say-but-i-wo_2266698.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/tom-stoppard-437_death_i-agree-with-everything-you-say-but-i-wo_2266698.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I agree with everything you say, but I would attack to the death your right to say it.” — Tom Stoppard", "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": "Tom Stoppard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I agree with everything you say,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-agree-with-everything-you-say-but-i-would-attack-to-the-death-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-agree-with-everything-you-say-but-i-would-attack-to-the-death-your/#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 } } ] } ```