--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Is it not strange that the descendants of…" description: "\"Is it not strange that the descendants of those Pilgrim Fathers who crossed the Atlantic to preserve their own freedom of opinion have always proved th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/william-e-simon-18151_father_is-it-not-strange-that-the-descendants-o_1581875.jpg" --- # Is it not strange that the descendants of those Pilgrim… ![“Is it not strange that the descendants of those Pilgrim Fathers who crossed the Atlantic to preserve their own freedom of opinion have always proved themselves intolerant of the spiritual liberty of others?” quote by William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/william-e-simon-18151_father_is-it-not-strange-that-the-descendants-o_1581875.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/william-e-simon-18151_father_is-it-not-strange-that-the-descendants-o_1581875.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/william-e-simon-18151_father_is-it-not-strange-that-the-descendants-o_1581875.jpg) > “Is it not strange that the descendants of those Pilgrim Fathers who crossed the Atlantic to preserve their own freedom of opinion have always proved themselves intolerant of the spiritual liberty of others?” [William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-simon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques the hypocrisy of descendants of early religious freedom seekers who now oppose others’ spiritual freedoms. **In simple terms:** Points out hypocrisy of religious liberty defenders. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge intolerance. Themes freedom hypocrisy religion tolerance Mood reflective critical Type ethical political When to use this quote - political debates - interfaith dialogues - education curricula - community leadership Key Concepts civil liberties historical irony social critique Questions to Reflect On - How do we reconcile historical ideals with current actions? - What steps can promote genuine tolerance? A Different Perspective May overlook positive contributions of those groups. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Freedom Of Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-opinion/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilgrim/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) ## Related quotes > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [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 > [“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/) > [“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/) > [ “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 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 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/) > [“SPIRITUAL LIBERTY 2 TIMOTHY 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/spiritual-liberty-2-timothy-1-7-god-has-not-given-us-a-spirit-of-fear/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [But the closer we study their lives, and the better we know their deeds, the more profound is our admiration and the greater our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-depew/but-the-closer-we-study-their-lives-and-the-better-we-know-their/) [Chauncey Depew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-depew/) > [It is a pity that instead of the Pilgrim Fathers landing on Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock had not landed on the Pilgrim Fathers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-depew/it-is-a-pity-that-instead-of-the-pilgrim-fathers-landing-on-plymouth/) [Chauncey Depew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-depew/) ## More by William E. Simon > [Everybody in this society that has been lurching toward socialism and collectivism for 40 years has their hand out. And the propensity of Congress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-simon/everybody-in-this-society-that-has-been-lurching-toward-socialism-and/) [William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-simon/) > [By the mid-1950s, the young bond traders on the Street were becoming more and more of a fraternity. We organized informal luncheons every Thursday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-simon/by-the-mid-1950s-the-young-bond-traders-on-the-street-were-becoming/) [William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-simon/) > [Productivity and the growth of productivity must be the first economic consideration at all times, not the last. That is the source of technological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-simon/productivity-and-the-growth-of-productivity-must-be-the-first/) [William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-simon/) > [Infinitely more important than sharing one's material wealth is sharing the wealth of ourselves-our time and energy, our passion and commitment, and, above all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-simon/infinitely-more-important-than-sharing-one-s-material-wealth-is/) [William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-simon/) > [Work appealed to me; school did not. I was a disinterested, bored student.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-simon/work-appealed-to-me-school-did-not-i-was-a-disinterested-bored-student/) [William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-simon/) > [Trading demands total concentration and the ability to do several things at once while instantly recalling trading prices from the day, or week, before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-simon/trading-demands-total-concentration-and-the-ability-to-do-several/) [William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-simon/) > [If you really want to help the poor, help the rich. They're the ones who will invest, build more factories, create more jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-simon/if-you-really-want-to-help-the-poor-help-the-rich-they-re-the-ones/) [William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-simon/) > [At Union Securities, I threw myself into my work with the discipline and commitment that I had always demonstrated in employment and only rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-simon/at-union-securities-i-threw-myself-into-my-work-with-the-discipline/) [William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-simon/) > [While Pop lived his life in comfort, he was always generous to the less fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-simon/while-pop-lived-his-life-in-comfort-he-was-always-generous-to-the/) [William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-simon/) > [Pop taught me respect for my fellow man and reverence for my God. He taught me the importance of family and religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-simon/pop-taught-me-respect-for-my-fellow-man-and-reverence-for-my-god-he/) [William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-simon/) > [Friedmans influence reaches far beyond the academic community and the world of economics. Rather than lock himself in an ivory tower, he has joined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-simon/friedmans-influence-reaches-far-beyond-the-academic-community-and-the/) [William E. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-simon/) > [Dad was high society, a big man in town, a 'Who's Who' in New jersey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-simon/dad-was-high-society-a-big-man-in-town-a-who-s-who-in-new-jersey/) [William E. 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