474 Quotes About Freedom-of-speech

If you can’t write freely and if you can’t speak freely in your country, you can be sure that you are living in a very primitive country!

Unfortunately, I have dedicated great effort to the task of compiling this ‘sensitive words glossary,’ and I have mastered my filtering skills. I knew which words and sentences had to be cut, and I accepted the cutting as if that was the way it should be. In fact, I will often take it on myself to save time and cut a few words. I call this ‘castrated writing’ -—I am a proactive eunuch, I have already castrated myself before the surgeon raises his scalpel.

Because at this time, in this place, Chinese writing exhibits symptoms of a mental disorder.

What is needed is the right to print what one believes to be true, without having to fear bullying or blackmail from any side.

Gelukkig is vrijheid van meningsuiting iets anders dan het recht op een podium.

寧鳴而死，不默而生

Our words run like fugitives from hands sodden in blood, all anxious and frantic trying to break free the voice captivated in a free land.

The right to have the freedom of speech is a high Good, which is there to express ones thoughts and emotions to others in any manner without having to fear to be punished for. But this right is a possibility given by law, and not a duty to nail every single thought of ours on somebody's forehead only because she or he doesn't want to know anything about that thoughts.

Independence of the media, freedom of the press, freedom of expression and the right of access to information are vital if the media are to be able to perform their watchdog function in a democratic society governed by the rule of law.