K. J. Shetty Quotes

Speech is an essential mechanism of democracy, for it is the means to hold officials accountable to the people. [...] The right of citizens to inquire, to hear, to speak, and to use information to reach consensus is a precondition to enlightened self-government and a necessary means to protect it. [...] By taking the right to speak from some and giving it to others, the Government deprives the disadvantaged person or class of the right to use speech to strive to establish worth, standing, and respect for the speaker’s voice. The Government may not by these means deprive the public of the right and privilege to determine for itself what speech and speakers are worthy of consideration. The First Amendment protects speech and speaker, and the ideas that flow from each.

People have the right to say what they want to.

I regard freedom of expression as the primary right without which one can not have a proper functioning democracy.

I think that, as Americans, we should never forget that when we tamper with freedom of speech, it is a very sensitive issue that affects all of our constitutional rights and privileges.

We need to defend absolutely the freedom of speech.

The Constitution does not allow the unnecessary trammeling of free expression, even for the noblest of purposes.

A free press stands as one of the great interpreters between the government and the people. To allow it to be fettered is to fetter ourselves.

Inconvenience does not absolve the government of its obligation to tolerate speech

Thankfully, we live in country, unlike Russia, where we have First Amendment rights.

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

This country is built on free speech.

One of the great rights as an American citizen is freedom of speech, one of the things that makes this country what it is.

Honestly, this country was built on freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and when you can no longer do that, then it is no longer based on that, you know.

Free speech is the cornerstone to every right we have.

Criticism of government finds sanctuary in several portions of the 1st Amendment. It is part of the right of free speech. It embraces freedom of the press.

As to the media, they are protected by the First Amendment, as they should be.

We won't tolerate abuses and crimes made every day in the name of freedom of speech. That is freedom of extortion and blackmail.

Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is life itself.

Free speech means the right to shout 'theatre' in a crowded fire.

There is no reason for the government to limit political speech.

Free speech is meant to protect unpopular speech. Popular speech, by definition, needs no protection.

In this country you can say aloud or publish just about anything you like.

Can someone within that society walk into the town square and say what they want without fear of being punished for his or her views? If so, then that society is a free society. If not, it is a fear society.

We have to worry about protecting the Constitution.

I begin to feel like most Americans don't understand the First Amendment, don't understand the idea of freedom of speech, and don't understand that it's the responsibility of the citizen to speak out.