Association Quote by Vladimir Lenin
“Freedom of speech and the press must be complete. But then freedom of association must be complete too.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: The 1917 Bolshevik Decree on Freedom of Speech and Press, 1917
Advocates that both expression and the right to associate freely are essential and inseparable for a truly free society.
In simple terms: Free speech and free association must both be absolute.
Key Takeaway
Protect both rights equally.
Themes
freedom
rights
politics
Mood
concerned
determined
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- journalism
- political activism
- community organizing
- online forums
Key Concepts
civil liberties
democracy
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies protect free association without enabling harmful groups?
- What limits, if any, are justified on speech?
A Different Perspective
Balancing unlimited freedom with preventing hate speech is challenging.
![“[T]here are, at bottom, basically two ways to order social affairs, Coercively, through the mechanisms of the state - what we can call political society. And voluntarily, through the private interaction of individuals and associations - what we can call civil society. ... In a civil society, you…” quote by Ed Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b8b/ed-crane-39299_affair_t-here-are-at-bottom-basically-two-ways_34431.jpg)
