Freedom Quotes
Presidents are over-represented here. George W. Bush has the most entries, ahead of Thomas Jefferson and John F. Kennedy, which says more about how often presidents talk about freedom than about how well they put it. The better writing tends to be elsewhere: Madison in the Federalist Papers (1787), Hannah Arendt in The Human Condition (1958), Dalí in his diary.
Two of the most repeated freedom quotes are flagged. “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” is credited to Voltaire. Evelyn Beatrice Hall wrote it in The Friends of Voltaire (1906), as a summary of his views. “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance” is credited to Jefferson, but nobody has found it in his writings. The closest early version is by John Philpot Curran, in a speech of 1790.
Take away freedom of speech, and the creative faculties dry up.
None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.
You can't separate peace from freedom, because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.
You know, there are two good things in life, freedom of thought and freedom of action.
What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.
Freedom gives us a chance to realize our human and individual uniqueness.
Those who lack the capacity to achieve much in an atmosphere of freedom will clamor for power.
Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.
A free press is one where it's okay to state the conclusion you're led to by the evidence.