Audience Quote by William O. Douglas
“Free speech is not to be regulated like diseased cattle and impure butter. The audience that hissed yesterday may applaud today, even for the same performance.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Supreme Court Oral Argument, 1965
Free expression must be protected from arbitrary control; public opinion can shift quickly.
In simple terms: Protect speech from strict regulation.
Key Takeaway
Defend open dialogue.
Themes
freedom
speech
public opinion
regulation
justice
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
legal
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political debate
- media coverage
- court rulings
- public protests
Key Concepts
civil liberties
first amendment
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- When should speech be limited for safety?
- How does public sentiment affect policy?
A Different Perspective
Even protected speech can cause harm; balance with responsibility.
![“Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us." [ The One Un-American Act , Speech to the Author's Guild Council in New York, on receiving the 1951 Lauterbach Award (December 3, 1952)]” quote by William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2ab/william-o-douglas-2931_democracy_restriction-of-free-thought-and-free-spe_550325.jpg)
