Fisher Ames Quote

"We are, heart and soul, friends to the freedom of the press. It is however, the prostituted companion of liberty, and somehow or other, we know not how, its efficient auxiliary. It follows the substance like its shade; but while a man walks erect, he may observe that his shadow is almost always in the dirt. It corrupts, it deceives, it inflames. It strips virtue of her honors, and lends to faction its wildfire and its poisoned arms, and in the end is its own enemy and the usurper's ally, It would be easy to enlarge on its evils. They are in England, they are here, they are everywhere. It is a precious pest, and a necessary mischief, and there would be no liberty without it."

by:	Fisher Ames (1758-1808), American statesman, orator and political writer
Source:	Review of the Pamphlet on the State of the British Constitution, 1807
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Categories:	Press, Media, Corruption, Speech
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The loss of liberty is also advanced by the press' expressions (or a lack thereof). The lack of investigative journalism advances media bias which emboldens an extreme ignorance of liberty.  -- Mike, Norwalk
-- Jim k
Brilliantly spoken!!  -- E Archer, NYC
Liberty is Truly a two edged sword ! " The press is a " prostituted champion , in the end its own enemy and the usurpers ally ".  -- Ronw13, Yachats Or
-- jim k, Austin

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