Michael Stipe Quotes

It is not undemocratic to express one's difference of opinion.

This nation was conceived in liberty and dedicated to the principle - among others - that honest men may honestly disagree; that if they all say what they think, a majority of the people will be able to distinguish truth from error.

It is easy to believe in freedom of speech for those with whom we agree.

In America we don’t apologize for opinions, that’s why we have a 1st Amendment. If we can’t discuss even controversial opinions in the pages of our newspapers, where are we going to do it?

In Canada we respect freedom of speech but we do not worship it.

America's Founders were committed to a wide-open public forum in which all voices and perspectives could have a chance of being heard.

In a nation as dynamic and diverse as the United States, what makes us great is that our founding principles are rooted in the bedrock principle of freedom, including the right to free expression.

I would love it if everybody in America agreed with me on every issue. I can't get my wife to agree with me on every issue, let alone the American people. It's called democracy. That's what it's about.

Whether we are New Dealer, Old Dealer, Liberty Leaguer or Red, whether we agree or not, we still have the right to think and speak how we feel.

You can see over time whether people are prepared to differ or not.

I like the noise of democracy.

I feel like freedom of speech is one of the great things in this country and the freedom to do what you feel is right.

I always think the true test of free speech is when someone says something you don't like.

Freedom rings where opinions clash.

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

The clash of ideas is the sound of freedom.

In America we can say what we think, and even if we can't think, we can say it anyhow.

In America the majority raises formidable barriers around the liberty of opinion; within these barriers an author may write what he pleases, but woe to him if he goes beyond them.

The US constitution's First Amendment rights only cover Americans, but I believe that in a democracy the competition of ideas and free speech should combat beliefs that it does not agree with - more speech and debate, not censorship.

You know, everybody believes in free speech until you start questioning them about it.

In many respects, the United States is a great country. Freedom of speech is protected more than in any other country. It is also a very free society.

Today I am here to defend the right to offend within the bounds of the law.

The United States is a country of freedom that looks primarily after the rights of all of its citizens, of all religions and races, despite the problems in application that manifest themselves from time to time.

The freedom allowed in the United States to all sorts of inquiry and discussion necessarily leads to a diversity of opinion, which is seen not only in their being different denominations, but different opinions also in the same denomination.

Free discussion is the only necessary Constitution.