Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quoteShare via Email Print this Page Daily Quotes Archives2004-05-26 May 26, 2004Every compulsion is put upon writers to become safe, polite, obedient, and sterile. In protest, I declined election to the National Institute of Arts and Letters some years ago, and now I must decline the Pulitzer Prize.~ Sinclair LewisTo subject an artist’s work to a litmus test of political probity – and to punish institutions that will not carry out the mandate of the state – is to traffic in the thought control that gave us Stalinism and Nazism…~ Richard GoldsteinLimiting the freedom of news ‘just a little bit’ is in the same category within the classic example ‘a little bit pregnant.’~ Robert A. Heinlein May 25, 2004Political correctness is the natural continuum from the party line. What we are seeing once again is a self-appointed group of vigilantes imposing their views on others.~ Doris LessingTo be able to think freely, a man must be certain that no consequence will follow whatever he writes.~ Ernest RenanAll discussion, all debate, all dissidence tends to question and in consequence, to upset existing convictions; that is precisely its purpose and its justification.~ Judge Learned Hand May 24, 2004The Liberty of the press is the Palladium of all the civil, political and religious rights of an Englishman.~ JuniusThe legislature of the United States shall pass no law on the subject of religion nor touching or abridging the liberty of the press.~ Charles PinckneyIn order to enjoy the inestimable benefits that the liberty of the press ensures, it is necessary to submit to the inevitable evils it creates…~ Alexis de Tocqueville May 21, 2004The history of totalitarian regimes is reflected in the evolution and perfection of the instruments of terror and more especially the police.~ Carl J. FriedrichThere is no greater fallacy than the belief that aims and purposes are one thing, while methods and tactics are another… All human experience teaches that methods and means cannot be separated from the ultimate aim.~ Emma GoldmanIt is maintained that a society is free only when dissenting minorities have room to throw their weight around. As a matter of fact, a dissenting minority feels free only when it can impose its will on the majority: what it abominates most is the dissent of the majority.~ Eric Hoffer May 20, 2004Increasingly constructive doubt is the sign of advancing civilization.~ Jerome D. FrankHumanity's most valuable assets have been the non-conformists. Were it not for the non-conformists, he who refuses to be satisfied to go along with the continuance of things as they are, and insists upon attempting to find new ways of bettering things, the world would have known little progress, indeed.~ Josiah William GittIn any free society, the conflict between social conformity and individual liberty is permanent, unresolvable, and necessary.~ Kathleen Norris Previous week's quotes Next week's quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print