Bill Bradley Quotes

Shame! Shame on this House! A civilized society does not stifle opposition. It meets it.

If you have an open society that what happens—people say things and they criticize you.

I honestly feel that if there is an important point of view, any member of the Congress party, any member of my Cabinet is free to raise issues and require reconsideration of issues. I think that's what a democracy is about.

Democrats need to value free speech and we should not be intimidated into giving an inch of it away.

The Greens have every right to run, that's what democracy is, and they should argue their point by saying how they think people should vote, not by telling us to be silent.

I have had many Ashfield people say to me that they might not agree with my political views or my decisions but that they supported my right to be heard.

We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.

We will not put a lid on opinions. On the contrary, it is more important than ever that political debates are open and free, even on the most difficult issues. Especially on the most difficult issues. The task is to encourage controversial debates in a form that strengthens democracy.

I think Thomas Jefferson would have said the more speech, the better.

We live in a democracy. We have this extraordinary opportunity to use our mind and say what we think, speak as we think. Sometimes what we say is objectionable to other people. But that is part of a free society.

A mature society understands that at the heart of democracy is argument.

Our right to disagree is precious but fragile. The best way to protect and preserve it is to let the other side speak without demonizing them or destroying their right to be heard. Such civil exchanges are the heart beat of democracy - essential to keeping it alive.

Now, I think that in acknowledging that every individual Member of Parliament and indeed every individual member of the Labour Party, has rights to express their view in a spirit of tolerance.

It is only in the freest of nations that people can not only criticize the government, fairly or unfairly, but in extraordinarily few—only the greatest—do the negative criticisms get very wide distribution. Look for the nation where their media are full of criticisms, and there you will find a nation sufficiently free and confident to consider possible improvement from any and all sources.

Without debate, without criticism, no Administration and no country can succeed — and no republic can survive. ... And that is why our press was protected by the First Amendment — the only business in America specifically protected by the Constitution.

Free speech is the foundation of an open and liberal democracy from college campuses to the White House.

I can't emphasize how important free speech is to a liberal and free democracy.

The right to free speech is critical to our democracy.

The back and forth between the press and government is essential to any good democracy.

American democracy is greater with free speech and open dialogue.

Like Israel, the U.K. is a democracy, and like Israel, we would never want to muzzle political voices, whatever their opinions - and that is especially true for universities.

Freedom of opinion is a valuable asset in a democracy.

Freedom of speech is freedom above all for those whose views you dislike most.

I assume that the point of American democracy is you can express any point of view you want.

To view the opposition as dangerous is to misunderstand the basic concepts of democracy. To oppress the opposition is to assault the very foundation of democracy.