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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In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane.
In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane.
We should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we loathe.
We should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we loathe.
New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.
New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.
I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.
I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.
It requires ages to destroy a popular opinion
It requires ages to destroy a popular opinion
A good listener tries to understand what the other person is saying. In the end he may disagree sharply, but read more
A good listener tries to understand what the other person is saying. In the end he may disagree sharply, but because he disagrees, he wants to know exactly what it is he is disagreeing with.
Opinions have vested interests just as men have.
Opinions have vested interests just as men have.
For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change read more
For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions, even on important subjects, which I once thought right but found to be otherwise.
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.
