Amendment 1 Quote by William J. Brennan

“If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.” quote by William J. Brennan — Download Open image

“If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.”

William J. Brennan

About This Quote

Source Supreme Court Opinion, United States v. O'Brien, 1968

The government cannot suppress speech merely because it offends societal norms.

In simple terms: Free speech isn’t limited by offense.

Key Takeaway

Defend ideas, not just speakers.

Themes

free speech constitution government limits

Mood

analytical serious

Type

legal philosophical

When to use this quote

political rallies
academic debate
media commentary

Key Concepts

first amendment censorship public discourse

Questions to Reflect On

What line should be drawn between offensive and dangerous speech?
How does society handle speech that harms marginalized groups?

A Different Perspective

Balancing hate speech concerns with absolute freedom.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3.2 out of 5 (6 ratings)

Amendment 1 Amendment 4 Amendments Bedrock Bedrock Principle Censorship Disagreeable Expression First amendment Firsts Flag burning Freedom of speech Freedom of speech and expression Freedom to read Government Government Prohibit Ideas Ifs Liberty of speech May Offensive Offensive Disagreeable Openness Principle Underlying Principles Underlying Amendment

More by William J. Brennan

If our free society is to endure, those who govern must recognize human dignity and accept the enforcement of constitutional limitations on their power…

William J. Brennan

Image

Capital punishment...treats members of the human race...as objects to be toyed with and discarded.

William J. Brennan

Image

Debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust and wide-open and that...may well include vehement, caustic, and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and…

William J. Brennan

Image

The modern public school derived from a philosophy of freedom reflected in the First Amendment ... The non-sectarian or secular public school was the…

William J. Brennan

Image

If a policeman must know the Constitution, then why not a planner?

William J. Brennan

Image

Our statute books gradually became laden with gross, stereotyped distinctions between the sexes and, indeed, throughout much of the 19th century the position of…

William J. Brennan

Image

We cannot let colorblindness become myopia which masks the reality that many "created equal" have been treated within our lifetimes as inferior both by…

William J. Brennan

Image

After each perceived security crisis ended, the United States has remorsefully realized that the abrogation of civil liberties was unnecessary.

William J. Brennan

Image

The door of the Free Exercise Clause stands tightly closed against any government regulation of religious beliefs as such. Government may neither compel affirmation…

William J. Brennan

Image

One area of law more than any other besmirches the constitutional vision of human dignity. . . . The barbaric death penalty violates our…

William J. Brennan

Image

“Thus, we consider this case against the background of a profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited,…

William J. Brennan

Image

Whether to the average person, applying contemporary community standards, the dominant theme of the material taken as a whole appeals to prurient interest.

William J. Brennan