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The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum.
Adlai E. Stevenson
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Free societies thrive on the open exchange of ideas and words.

This quote by Adlai E. Stevenson emphasizes the importance of freedom of expression as a foundational element of any free society. It suggests that for a society to be truly free, it must enable a vibrant and unrestricted dialogue among its members, allowing diverse opinions and thoughts to flow without hindrance, fostering understanding and progress.

Themes

Free SocietyFreedom Of SpeechOpen ForumExpressionCommunication

In practice

Example use cases

During a speech advocating for social media reform, one might quote this to highlight the importance of free speech online.

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I have been thinking that I would make a proposition to my Republican friends... that if they will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them.
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