"Although I may disagree with what you have to say, I shall defend your right to say it"
2006-08-24 12:09:12 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Willian Shaksepeare--
"even the devil can quote scripture for his purpose"
2006-08-24 12:11:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because I believe (strongly) in the freedom of speech, very good. It also shows that Voltaire could, in fact, make the distinction between agreeing that someone should be able to say something and agreeing with what they're saying.
2006-08-24 12:12:34 · answer #2 · answered by Patrick 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think some people are missing the point of the quote. What he is saying is that if he defends all speech, even speech he finds reprehensible, he is also defending his own freedom of speech. You can't impose limits on the speech of someone else or allow limits to be imposed without putting your own freedom in jeopardy.
2006-08-24 12:21:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on your perspective. If you believe in freedom of speech and that's an important right in your opinion, then yes, it is good. If someone has something to say that isn't quite to your taste, you still respect their opinion. On the other hand, if you really dislike what someone has to say, you may not respect their opinion and therefore Voltaire's statement is bad because you have no desire to defend that person's right to say whatever it was that you disliked. Its all perspective.
2006-08-24 12:12:39 · answer #4 · answered by talktime 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Its an excellent quote and very salient to our times. In a period where our leaders want to severely restrict our rights to express dissent, under the pretext of national security, it is incumbent of us to remind those who are being exploited, out of fear, that freedom of speech, even when you don’t agree with that speech, is fundamental to the maintenance of our democracy. Remove free speech, and you obliterate America, as we know it, and any pretense of freedom we pretend to have. In essence you have capitulated the defining value of our culture, thus conceding defeat to Islamists.
Ah, where is Voltaire and his incisive wit in tumultuous times like ours? We need his type of eloquent intellectual candor to resound throughout our land.
2006-08-24 12:21:04 · answer #5 · answered by Lawrence Louis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not just good. It's a right guaranteed by the US constitution.
2006-08-24 15:11:39 · answer #6 · answered by F. Frederick Skitty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like the first amendment I like it
2006-08-24 12:12:08 · answer #7 · answered by lint 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I love it. It makes a lot of sense. The answer is "good."
2006-08-24 12:20:50 · answer #8 · answered by Strives to be Something 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it sums up our freedom of speech, its a great quote
2006-08-24 12:11:59 · answer #9 · answered by region50 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I practice that philosophy every day.
2006-08-24 12:15:47 · answer #10 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋