The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is that it is robbing the human race; posterity as read more

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.

Every new opinion, at its starting, is precisely in a minority of one.

Every new opinion, at its starting, is precisely in a minority of one.

Truth is one forever absolute, but opinion is truth filtered through the moods, the blood, the disposition of the spectator.

Truth is one forever absolute, but opinion is truth filtered through the moods, the blood, the disposition of the spectator.

One can give a really unbiased opinion only about things that do not interest one

One can give a really unbiased opinion only about things that do not interest one

Opinions founded on prejudice are always sustained with the greatest violence.

Opinions founded on prejudice are always sustained with the greatest violence.

One should respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, read more

One should respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny

The feeble tremble before opinion, the foolish defy it, the wise judge it, and the skillful direct it.

The feeble tremble before opinion, the foolish defy it, the wise judge it, and the skillful direct it.

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.

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.