Ideas don't desert you; ideas aren't treasonous to you, but people can be.
Alan DershowitzRead
Our First Amendment expresses a far different calculus for regulating speech than for regulating nonexpressive conduct and that is as it should be. The right to swing your fist should end at the tip of my nose, but your right to express your ideas should not necessarily end at the lobes of my ears.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the distinction between free speech and actions, urging that ideas should be freely expressed despite potential offense to others.
Alan Dershowitz's quote reflects on the complexities surrounding the regulation of speech versus nonexpressive conduct. It highlights the fundamental principle of free speech enshrined in the First Amendment, suggesting that while one person’s actions may have limits—illustrated by the metaphor of swinging a fist—expressing ideas should enjoy broader protection, even if they may upset others. This encourages an open discourse where diverse thoughts can be shared without fear of repression, as long as they do not harm others directly.
Themes
Free SpeechFirst AmendmentExpressionIdeasRegulation
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate on freedom of expression, this quote can be used to emphasize the importance of protecting diverse viewpoints.
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It's never acceptable to target civilians. It violates the Geneva Accords, it violates the international law of war and it violates all principles of morality.
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When I was growing up, my mother would always say, 'It will go on your permanent record.' There was no 'permanent record.' If there were a 'permanent record,' I'd never be able to be a lawyer. I was such a bum, in elementary school and high school... There is a permanent record today and it's called the Internet.
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A good lawyer knows how to shut up when he's won his case.
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Scientists search for truth. Philosophers search for morality. A criminal trial searches for only one result: proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
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