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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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.
It is just that we should be grateful, not only to those with whose views we may agree, but also read more
It is just that we should be grateful, not only to those with whose views we may agree, but also to those who have expressed more superficial views; for these also contributed something, by developing before us the powers of thought.
I think most of the people involved in any art always secretly wonder whether they are really there because they're read more
I think most of the people involved in any art always secretly wonder whether they are really there because they're good or there because they're lucky.
The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.
The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.
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
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.
Private opinion is weak, but public opinion is almost omnipotent.
Private opinion is weak, but public opinion is almost omnipotent.
A fellow can't keep people from having a bad opinion of him, but he can keep them from being right read more
A fellow can't keep people from having a bad opinion of him, but he can keep them from being right about it.
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
