Slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; and he is relieved by them, only as an aching heart is relieved by its tears.
Frederick DouglassRead
To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Suppressing free speech harms both the speaker and the audience.
This quote by Frederick Douglass emphasizes the fundamental importance of free speech as a right that benefits society as a whole. Suppression not only silences the speaker's voice but also robs the listeners of the opportunity to hear diverse opinions and ideas, which is essential for a healthy democracy and individual thought.
Themes
Free SpeechRightsCommunicationDemocracyExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate on campus, I quoted Douglass to emphasize the necessity of protecting all rights of expression.
More from Frederick Douglass
All quotes βWe may explain success mainly by one word and that word is WORK! WORK!! WORK!!! WORK!!!!
Frederick DouglassRead
I do not think much of the good luck theory of self-made men. It is worth but little attention and has no practical value.
Frederick DouglassRead
The Constitution is a GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT. Read its preamble, consider it purposes. Is slavery among them? Is it at the gateway? or is it in the temple? it is neither.
Frederick DouglassRead
Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them.
Frederick DouglassRead
A great man, tender of heart, strong of nerve, boundless patience and broadest sympathy, with no motive apart from his country.
Frederick DouglassRead
Similar quotes
There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell.
William Tecumseh ShermanRead
Our humble service attitude in our life is what determines what effect chanting will have on our consciousness. Otherwise we can be chanting for millions and millions of births before we actually achieve the goal.
Radhanath SwamiRead
Uncertainty in the pressure of vivid hopes and fears is painful, but must be endured if we wish to live without the support of comforting fairy tales.
Bertrand RussellRead
The ideal American type is perfectly expressed by the Protestant, individualist, anti-conformist, and this is the type that is in the process of disappearing. In reality there are few left.
Orson WellesRead
You knew how humiliating that is as an experience for celebrities to be less of a celebrity. There's no class to adjust to being less famous, and you don't think you have to worry about it. But you do.
Carrie FisherRead
We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.
Immanuel KantRead