Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page [281-300] of 371 Free Thought quotesFree Thought QuotesFree Thought Previous 20 quotes Next 20 quotes We [entrepreneurs] required that you leave us free to function -- free to think and work as we choose ... -- free to earn our own profits and make our own fortunes ... Such was the price we asked, which you chose to reject as too high.~ Ayn Rand A liberal society stands on the proposition that we should all take seriously the idea that we might be wrong. This means we must place no one, including ourselves, beyond the reach of criticism (no final say); it means that we must allow people to err, even where the error offends and upsets, as it often will.~ Jonathan Rauch What a state of society is this in which freethinker is a term of abuse, and in which doubt is regarded as sin?~ William Winwood Reade Freedom is the right to question and change the established way of doing things. It is the continuous revolution of the marketplace. It is the understanding that allows us to recognize shortcomings and seek solutions.~ Ronald Reagan Are you willing to spend time studying the issues, making yourself aware, and then conveying that information to family and friends? Will you resist the temptation to get a government handout for your community?~ Ronald Reagan To be able to think freely, a man must be certain that no consequence will follow whatever he writes.~ Ernest Renan For the human mind is seldom at stay: If you do not grow better, you will most undoubtedly grow worse.~ Samuel Richardson In our dreams, people yield themselves with perfect docility to our molding hands. The present education conventions of intellectual and character education fade from their minds, and, unhampered by tradition, we work our own good will upon a grateful and responsive folk. We shall not try to make these people, or any of their children, into philosophers, or men of science. We have not to raise up from them authors, educators, poets or men of letters. We shall not search for great artists, painters, musicians nor lawyers, doctors, preachers, politicians, statesmen -- of whom we have an ample supply. The task is simple. We will organize children and teach them in a perfect way the things their fathers and mothers are doing in an imperfect way.~ John D. Rockefeller, Sr. The relative openness or closedness of a mind cuts across specific content; that is, it is not restricted to any one particular ideology, or religion, or philosophy, or scientific viewpoint.~ Milton Rokeach Give me control over a man's economic actions, and hence over his means of survival, and except for a few occasional heroes, I'll promise to deliver to you men who think and write and behave as I want them to.~ Benjamin A. Rooge The most absolute authority is that which penetrates into a man’s innermost being and concerns itself no less with his will than with his actions.~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau Controversy is only dreaded by the advocates of error.~ Dr. Benjamin Rush If we were all given by magic the power to read each other's thoughts, I suppose the first effect would be to dissolve all friendships.~ Bertrand Russell In all affairs it’s a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.~ Bertrand Russell The essence of the liberal outlook lies not in what opinions are held, but in how they are held: instead of being viewed dogmatically, they are held tentatively, with a consciousness that new evidence may at any moment lead to their abandonment.~ Bertrand Russell The practical objection to Puritanism, as to every form of fanaticism, is that it singles out certain evils as so much worse than others that they must be suppressed at all costs. The fanatic fails to recognise that the suppression of a real evil, if carried out too drastically, produces other evils which are even greater.~ Bertrand Russell It is clear that thought is not free if the profession of certain opinions make it impossible to earn a living.~ Bertrand Russell I pray that no child of mine would ever descend into such a place as a library. They are indeed most dangerous places and unfortunate is she or he who is lured into such a hellhole of enjoyment, stimulus, facts, passion and fun.~ Willy Russell There is a lurking fear that some things are not meant “to be known,” that some inquiries are too dangerous for human beings to make.~ Carl Sagan At the heart of science is an essential tension between two seemingly contradictory attitudes -- an openness to new ideas, no matter how bizarre or counterintuitive they may be, and the most ruthless skeptical scrutiny of all ideas, old and new. This is how deep truths are winnowed from deep nonsense.~ Carl Sagan Previous 20 quotes Next 20 quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print