A wonderful freedom of speech quote...

[southernleftylady]

"Without free speech no search for truth is possible... no discovery of truth is useful... Better a thousandfold abuse of free speech than denial of free speech. The abuse dies in a day, but the denial slays the life of the people, and entombs the hope of the race."
Charles BRADLAUGH
British social reformer (1833-1891)

[southernleftylady]

1. some more

"Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one’s thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right which they first of all strike down. They know its power. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, founded in injustice and wrong, are sure to tremble, if men are allowed to reason…
There can be on right of speech where any man… compelled to suppress his honest sentiments.
Equally clear is the right to hear. To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker."
Frederick DOUGLASS
"To speak his thoughts is every freeman's right, in peace and war, in council and in fight."
HOMER
"What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist."


Salman RUSHDIE
Indian-born British novelist (1947-)
"The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism."


Wole SOYINKA