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As liberty of thought is absolute, so is liberty of speech, which is 'inseparable' from the liberty of thought. Liberty of speech, moreover, is essential not only for its own sake but for the sake of truth, which requires absolute liberty for the utterance of unpopular and even demonstrably false opinions.
Gertrude Himmelfarb
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Liberty of thought and speech are essential for expressing truth, including unpopular opinions.

This quote emphasizes the fundamental connection between freedom of thought and freedom of speech. It argues that true liberty in expressing ideas, even those that are unpopular or incorrect, is vital for pursuing truth and understanding, as it allows for a diverse range of opinions and discussions that challenge the status quo.

Themes

LibertySpeechThoughtTruthOpinions

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate about free speech rights, one could reference this quote to highlight the importance of protecting unpopular opinions.

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