May the sun never set on American baseball.
Harry S. TrumanRead
There is no more fundamental axiom of American freedom than the familiar statement: In a free country we punish men for the crimes they commit but never for the opinions they have.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Freedom of opinion is a foundational principle in America, distinguishing between actions and beliefs.
This quote by Harry S. Truman emphasizes that in a free society, individuals are held accountable for their actions, but their thoughts and opinions should be protected. The statement reflects the core American value of free expression, suggesting that one’s personal beliefs should not be punished or censored while recognizing that criminal actions warrant consequences.
Themes
FreedomOpinionsJusticeAmericaResponsibility
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about civil rights, one might evoke this quote to underscore the importance of protecting free speech.
More from Harry S. Truman
All quotes →Having found the bomb we have used it. We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, against those who have abandoned all pretense of obeying international laws of warfare. We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans.
Harry S. TrumanRead
Herbert Hoover once ran on the slogan, 'Two cars in every garage'. Apparently, the Republican candidate this year is running on the slogan, 'Two families in every garage'.
Harry S. TrumanRead
The only things worth learning are the things you learn after you know it all.
Harry S. TrumanRead
I never would have agreed to the formulation of the Central Intelligence Agency back in forty-seven, if I had known it would become the American Gestapo.
Harry S. TrumanRead
I would rather have peace in the world than be President.
Harry S. TrumanRead
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Once you understand that Goliath is much weaker than you think he is, and David has superior technology, then you say: why do we tell the story the way we do? It becomes, actually, a far more meaningful and important story in its retelling than in the kind of unsophisticated way we've done it for, I think, too long.
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