Hugo Black Quotes

Freedom of speech is central to most every other right that we hold dear in the United States and serves to strengthen the democracy of our great country. It is unfortunate, then, when actions occur that might be interpreted as contrary to this honored tenet.

Whatever doubt there may be as to the quality or purpose of our free speech we certainly have ample volumes in production.

I am for the First Amendment from the first word to the last. I believe it means what it says.

Freedom to speak and write about public questions is as important to the life of our government as is the heart to the human body. In fact, this privilege is the heart of our government. If that heart be weakened, the result is debilitation; if it be stilled, the result is death.

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

I don't want our right to be able to speak and dissent to be taken away.

Americans have fought and died around the globe to protect the right of all people to express their views, even views that we profoundly disagree with. We do not do so because we support hateful speech, but because our founders understood that without such protections, the capacity of each individual to express their own views and practice their own faith may be threatened. We do so because in a diverse society, efforts to restrict speech can quickly become a tool to silence critics and oppress minorities.

I understand that unless you have a government of laws, rather than a government of people, you cannot protect dissent. And I understand, as a woman who probably would have been burned in the marketplace for witchcraft only about 200 years ago, that I need the First Amendment more than anybody does. And that even if I am repelled by child pornography or Bob Guccione's productions, that I have to protect those things, because essentially it's in my self-interest to do so.

In a free state there should be freedom of speech and thought.

Curtailment of free speech is rationalized on grounds that a more compelling American tradition forbids criticism of the government when the nation is at war... Nothing can be more destructive of our fundamental democratic traditions than the vicious effort to silence dissenters.

It is now well established that the Constitution protects the right to receive information and ideas. ... This right to receive information and ideas, regardless of their social worth, ... is fundamental to our free society.

I would bet there is no place in the United States where the First Amendment would survive intact.

We have a First Amendment for good reasons. We need a free press because without an educated electorate we cannot have a functioning democracy.

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.

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.

No one respects the First Amendment more than I do. People have a right to express their concerns and their hopes and dreams to their government.

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

The free society tolerates those within it who would use that freedom to destroy it.

We had a responsibility to represent all people whose 1st Amendment rights were at risk

In a democracy, expressing disagreement with the government’s actions does not amount to sedition or insurrection—it is, and must remain, protected speech.

An unconditional right to say what one pleases about public affairs is what I consider to be the minimum guarantee of the 1st Amendment.

Our birthright under the 1st Amendment is to foster the voices of dissent.

This is a country where loose talk is encouraged by the Constitution.

If there is liberty, if there is democracy, in this country, it will stand or fall with the right of the minority to express to the full force of language its opposition in public to the policies of the government. And it will stand or fall with the courage of the minority so to express itself.