Know Quote by William Rehnquist
“I may not be able to define pornography but I know it when I see it.”
About This Quote
Source Court opinion: Supreme Court case, 1990
Legal standards for obscenity are vague; personal judgment often defines pornography.
In simple terms: Obscenity is hard to define legally.
Key Takeaway
Rely on community standards.
Themes
law
morality
subjectivity
Mood
formal
serious
Type
legal
philosophical
When to use this quote
- media regulation
- artistic expression
- online content
Key Concepts
obscenity law
censorship
judgment
Questions to Reflect On
- How should society define harmful content?
- What safeguards protect free expression?
A Different Perspective
Legal ambiguity leads to inconsistent rulings.
![“[I]f we assume a liberty interest but nevertheless say that, even assuming a liberty interest, a state can prohibit it entirely, that would be rather a conundrum.” quote by William Rehnquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/16f/william-rehnquist-28058_assuming_i-f-we-assume-a-liberty-interest-but-nev_1642233.jpg)
