"You make men love their government and their country by giving them the kind of government and the kind of country that inspire respect and love; a country that is free and unafraid, that lets the discontented talk in order to learn the causes of their discontent and end those causes, that refuses to impel men to spy on their neighbors, that protects its citizens vigorously from harmful acts while it leaves the remedies for objectionable ideas to counter-argument and time."
by:
Zechariah Chafee, Jr.
(1865-1957) American professor of law, judicial philosopher, civil rights advocate
Source:
Free Speech in the United States, 1942
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Reader comments about this quote:
The one thing common in the fall of all great Nations is the gradual taking away of free speech. Others include; the lack of compassion, greed, and intolerance.
 -- Robert, Sarasota     
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    Great quote!
     -- Mike, Mount Holly, NC     
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    Right you are Robert (having just described King George's governing principles). Can I give this one an 8?
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US     
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    In the age of the glut of information, sound bites that have displaced in depth news, and the short attention span of the masses, there must be more than just lip service (pun intended) to the notion of free speech.I think in this quote an essential observation that makes it profound is the last word 'time'. Without that a plethera of arguments get lost in the babble of the blogosphere.
     -- EGL, LA     
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    5 stars for intent and sentiment...all that is left.
     -- David L. Rosenthal     
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    A bit utopian, but what's the matter with that? It is still a good description of what a government should be.
     -- Jack, Green. OH     
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    An ideal worth realizing.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Again, an excellent statement, Alas the negative of these words is becoming America's MO....
     -- Robert, St. Emilion, France     
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    Couldn't agree more except for the: "that protects its citizens vigorously from harmful acts" which I adamantly disagree with - from its foundational premise to the action described. We, the individual sovereigns are not their citizens. Protection is an individual right and responsibility. We, the individual sovereigns are that body politic's, which is erroneously called government, superiors. The body politic are servants who's sole duty is to address the individual sovereign's inalienable rights. I would have given this quote 5 stars +, if the part here in question had stated: that vigorously represents its individual sovereign's inalienable rights.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Political correctness is killing this nation.
     -- jim k, austin tx     
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