The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.
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Opinions founded on prejudice are always sustained with the greatest violence.
Opinions founded on prejudice are always sustained with the greatest violence.
A yawn may not be polite, but at least it is an honest opinion
A yawn may not be polite, but at least it is an honest opinion
We must always think about things, and we must think about things as they are, not as they are said read more
We must always think about things, and we must think about things as they are, not as they are said to be.
The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed, read more
The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed, in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a wide-spread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible
This is the test of your manhood: How much is there left in you after you have lost everything outside read more
This is the test of your manhood: How much is there left in you after you have lost everything outside of yourself?
One often contradicts an opinion when what is uncongenial is really the tone in which it was conveyed.
One often contradicts an opinion when what is uncongenial is really the tone in which it was conveyed.
A man is getting along on the road to wisdom when he begins to realize that his opinion is just read more
A man is getting along on the road to wisdom when he begins to realize that his opinion is just an opinion.
Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes.
Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes.
Some men are just as sure of the truth of their opinions as are others of what they know.
Some men are just as sure of the truth of their opinions as are others of what they know.
