--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Where there is no danger of overt action…" description: "\"Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing freedom of opinion ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/walter-lippmann-1083_action_where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action_48973.jpg" --- # Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely… ![“Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing freedom of opinion within an aristocratic class which at the same time sanctioned the ruthless suppression of heterodox opinion among the common people. When the…” quote by Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/walter-lippmann-1083_action_where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action_48973.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/walter-lippmann-1083_action_where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action_48973.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/walter-lippmann-1083_action_where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action_48973.jpg) > “Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing freedom of opinion within an aristocratic class which at the same time sanctioned the ruthless suppression of heterodox opinion among the common people. When the Inquisition was operating most effectively against the bourgeois who had lapsed into heresy, the princes of the Church and the nobles enjoyed the freedom of the Renaissance.” [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom flourishes where elites can express dissent without threatening their power, while the masses face repression of nonconforming ideas. **In simple terms:** Elite liberty vs. popular oppression Key Takeaway Power structures shape who can speak freely Themes political power class dynamics freedom of speech intellectual history elite privilege Mood reflective critical analytical Type historical observation political commentary When to use this quote - courtly debates - academic salons - public policy debates - media commentary - grassroots activism Key Concepts elite immunity censorship social hierarchy intellectual control Practical Applications - historical analysis of Renaissance politics - modern critiques of elite-driven narratives Questions to Reflect On - How does class affect the distribution of free expression? - What mechanisms allow elites to protect their own dissent? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Aristocratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocratic/) [Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bourgeois/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-people/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Enjoyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyed/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Of Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-opinion/) [Freedom Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-opinion-703799/) [Freedom Renaissance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-renaissance-703802/) [Heresy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heresy/) [Inquisition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquisition/) [Interference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interference/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Opinion Aristocratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion-aristocratic-703800/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Renaissance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renaissance/) [Ruthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruthless/) [Suppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suppression/) ## Related quotes > [“We must insist that free oratory is only the beginning of free speech; it is not the end, but a means to an end.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/we-must-insist-that-free-oratory-is-only-the-beginning-of-free-speech/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Freedom of opinion can only exist when the government thinks itself secure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/freedom-of-opinion-can-only-exist-when-the-government-thinks-itself/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Freedom in education has many aspects. There is first of all freedom to learn or not to learn. Then there is freedom as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/freedom-in-education-has-many-aspects-there-is-first-of-all-freedom/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/united-nations/everyone-has-the-right-to-freedom-of-opinion-and-expression-this/) [United Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/united-nations/) > [“Freedom of opinion! Where is it? I see a press more mean and paltry and silly and disgraceful than any country ever knew, -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/freedom-of-opinion-where-is-it-i-see-a-press-more-mean-and-paltry-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Difference of opinion leads to enquiry, and enquiry to truth; and I am sure...we both value too much the freedom of opinion sanctioned by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/difference-of-opinion-leads-to-enquiry-and-enquiry-to-truth-and-i-am/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Freedom of opinion is a valuable asset in a democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/freedom-of-opinion-is-a-valuable-asset-in-a-democracy/) [Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/) > [Is it not strange that the descendants of those Pilgrim Fathers who crossed the Atlantic to preserve their own freedom of opinion have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-simon/is-it-not-strange-that-the-descendants-of-those-pilgrim-fathers-who/) [William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-simon/) > [ “May it \[American independence\] be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/may-it-american-independence-be-to-the-world-what-i-believe-it-will/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The military struggle may frankly be regarded for what it actually was, namely a war for independence, an armed attempt to imposethe views of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/the-military-struggle-may-frankly-be-regarded-for-what-it-actually/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Of course, there are dangers in religious freedom and freedom of opinion. But to deny these rights is worse than dangerous, it is absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/of-course-there-are-dangers-in-religious-freedom-and-freedom-of-2/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Freedom of opinion is like health; both are individual, and no good general conception can be set up of either of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/freedom-of-opinion-is-like-health-both-are-individual-and-no-good/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Thus the essence of freedom of opinion is not in mere toleration as such, but in the debate which toleration provides: it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/thus-the-essence-of-freedom-of-opinion-is-not-in-mere-toleration-as/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [There is nothing disastrous in the temporary nature of our ideas. They are always that. But there may very easily be a train of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/there-is-nothing-disastrous-in-the-temporary-nature-of-our-ideas-they/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The more administrative machinery we construct, be it the most modern, the less place there is for the Spirit, the less place there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-more-administrative-machinery-we-construct-be-it-the-most-modern/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## More by Walter Lippmann > [The emancipated woman has to fight something worse than the crusted prejudices of her uncles; she has to fight the bewilderment in her own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-emancipated-woman-has-to-fight-something-worse-than-the-crusted/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Even God has been defended with nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/even-god-has-been-defended-with-nonsense/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [A better distribution of incomes would increase that efficiency by diverting a great fund of wealth from the useless to the useful members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-better-distribution-of-incomes-would-increase-that-efficiency-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [There is but one bond of peace that is both permanent and enriching: The increasing knowledge of the world in which experiment occurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/there-is-but-one-bond-of-peace-that-is-both-permanent-and-enriching/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-final-test-of-a-leader-is-that-he-leaves-behind-him-in-other-men/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The simple opposition between the people and big business has disappeared because the people themselves have become so deeply involved in big business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-simple-opposition-between-the-people-and-big-business-has/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [A free press is not a privilege but an organic necessity in a great society. ... A great society is simply a big and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-free-press-is-not-a-privilege-but-an-organic-necessity-in-a-great/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [“Since position and contact play so big a part in determining what can be seen, heard, read, and experienced, as well as what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/since-position-and-contact-play-so-big-a-part-in-determining-what-can/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [An alliance is like a chain. It is not made stronger by adding weak links to it. A great power like the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/an-alliance-is-like-a-chain-it-is-not-made-stronger-by-adding-weak/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The chief element in the art of statesmanship under modern conditions is the ability to elucidate the confused and clamorous interests which converge upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-chief-element-in-the-art-of-statesmanship-under-modern-conditions/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [At the core of every moral code there is a picture of human nature, a map of the universe, and a version of history.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/at-the-core-of-every-moral-code-there-is-a-picture-of-human-nature-a/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The tendency of the casual mind is to pick out or stumble upon a sample which supports or defies its prejudices, and then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-tendency-of-the-casual-mind-is-to-pick-out-or-stumble-upon-a/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [There is only one purpose to which a whole society can be directed by a deliberate plan. That purpose is war, and there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/there-is-only-one-purpose-to-which-a-whole-society-can-be-directed-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [In a democracy, the opposition is not only tolerated as constitutional, but must be maintained because it is indispensable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/in-a-democracy-the-opposition-is-not-only-tolerated-as-constitutional/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Unless democracy is to commit suicide by consenting to its own destruction, it will have to find some formidable answer to those who come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/unless-democracy-is-to-commit-suicide-by-consenting-to-its-own/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) [Explore all 296 Walter Lippmann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing freedom of opinion within an aristocratic class which at the same time sanctioned the ruthless suppression of heterodox opinion among the common people. When the Inquisition was operating most effectively against the bourgeois who had lapsed into heresy, the princes of the Church and the nobles enjoyed the freedom of the Renaissance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Lippmann" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/walter-lippmann-1083_action_where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action_48973.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/walter-lippmann-1083_action_where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action_48973.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/walter-lippmann-1083_action_where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action_48973.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there…” — Walter Lippmann", "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": "Walter Lippmann", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Where there is no danger of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/#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 } } ] } ```