As liberty of thought is absolute, so is liberty of speech, which is 'inseparable' from the liberty of thought. Liberty of speech, moreover, is essential not only for its own sake but for the sake of truth, which requires absolute liberty for the utterance of unpopular and even demonstrably false opinions.
Interpretation
Liberty of thought and speech are essential for expressing truth, including unpopular opinions.
This quote emphasizes the fundamental connection between freedom of thought and freedom of speech. It argues that true liberty in expressing ideas, even those that are unpopular or incorrect, is vital for pursuing truth and understanding, as it allows for a diverse range of opinions and discussions that challenge the status quo.
In practice
In a debate about free speech rights, one could reference this quote to highlight the importance of protecting unpopular opinions.
The footnote would seem to be the smallest detail in a work of history. Yet it carries a large burden of responsibility, testifying to the validity of the work, the integrity (and the humility) of the historian, and to the dignity of the discipline.
As society is now constituted, a literal adherence to the moral precepts scattered throughout the Gospels would mean sudden death.
We talk about predestination because the Bible talks about predestination. If we desire to build our theology on the Bible, we run head on into this concept. We soon discover that John Calvin did not invent it.
Laissez faire does not mean: let soulless mechanical forces operate. It means: let individuals choose how they want to cooperate in the social division of labor and let them determine what the entrepreneurs should produce.
Weary of myself, and sick of asking What I am, and what I ought to be, At this vessel's prow I stand, which bears me Forwards, forwards, o'er the starlit sea.
Alone of all the races on earth, they seem to be free from the 'Grass is Greener on the other side of the fence' syndrome, and roundly proclaim that Australia is, in fact, the other side of that fence.
I think people sleepwalk through their lives, and for me, I wanted to embrace everything. And that meant the agonizing pain and the transcendence, and you can't have one without the other.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.