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“I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” is said to have come from Voltaire. It is not from Voltaire, the 18th-century philosopher, but it was a paraphrase from a biographer named Evelyn Beatrice Hall of what she thought Voltaire was thinking.Jan 31, 2017
In The Friends of Voltaire, Hall wrote the phrase: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” as an illustration of Voltaire’s beliefs. This quotation – which is sometimes misattributed to Voltaire himself – is often cited to describe the principle of freedom of speech.
“I don’t agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Unfortunately, the quote isn’t real — or at least, it’s not really Voltaire. It comes from a 1906 biography by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, in which it was intended to represent a summary of his thinking on free speech issues.
Thanks also to Conor Walsh who asked about a related quotation attributed to Oscar Wilde. Special thanks to Tom Sawallis who pointed to some useful French language webpages on this topic. One source contained the important 1943 citation in which Hall ascribed the quotation to herself.
It’s also possible Hall was inspired by a different quote attributed to Voltaire in a 1770 letter which said, “I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write.” Even that quote, however, is hotly debated by scholars.
Quote by Carl Gustav Jung: “You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.”
Voltaire’s prolific biting satire and philosophical writings demonstrated his aversion to Christianity, intolerance, and tyranny. He pleaded for a socially involved type of literature. Meanwhile, he rejected everything irrational and incomprehensible and championed freedom of thought.
Quote by Evelyn Beatrice Hall: “I detest what you write, but I would give my li…”
Voltaire was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher, who attacked the Catholic Church and advocated freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and separation of church and state.
Quoted from Voltaire, it means that he will protect the right of free speech for everyone and allow the people to say what they want, even if it disagrees with his own philosophy.
“Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it.” “It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one.” “Think for yourself and let others enjoy the privilege of doing so too.” “Faith consists in believing what reason cannot.”
Published in 1759, Candide is considered Voltaire’s signature work, and it is here that he levels his sharpest criticism against nobility, philosophy, the church, and cruelty.
In Leviathan,however, Hobbes unequivocally argues that absolutist monarchy is the only right form of government. … He holds that any form of ordered government is preferable to civil war. Thus he advocates that all members of society submit to one absolute, central authority for the sake of maintaining the common peace.
Human rights are basic rights that belong to all of us simply because we are human. They embody key values in our society such as fairness, dignity, equality and respect. They are an important means of protection for us all, especially those who may face abuse, neglect and isolation.
They include civil and political rights, which refer to a person’s rights to take part in the civil and political life of their community without discrimination or oppression. These include rights and freedoms such as the right to vote, the right to privacy, freedom of speech and freedom from torture.
Indispensable Free Speech
Freedom of speech protects your right to say things that are disagreeable. It gives you—and everyone else—the right to criticize government policies and actions.
What does the quote you are what you do not what you say you’ll do mean? – Carl Gustav Jung. It is important to acknowledge the fact that our actions define us and not our choices. A winner always finds ways to turn the right ideas into good deeds.
Quote by Stephanie Lahart: “Say what you mean and mean what you say.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
According to Locke: In the state of nature, liberty consists of being free from any superior power on Earth. People are not under the will or lawmaking authority of others but have only the law of nature for their rule.
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” The quote was attributed, falsely, to Voltaire after Hall first used the words under the pseudonym S.G. Tallentyre in the 1906 book “Friends of Voltaire.”
He was a major figure in the Enlightenment, a writer, historian and philosopher, renowned for his advocacy of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the separation of church and state. … He admired Britain’s constitutional monarchy and its greater respect for liberty and free speech.
Voltaire was well known for criticizing intolerance wherever he saw it. What happened to him because of his outspoken criticism of authorities? Because of his outspoken thoughts, he was in jail twice and he had to flee the country or city multiple times.
Thanks also to Conor Walsh who asked about a related quotation attributed to Oscar Wilde. Special thanks to Tom Sawallis who pointed to some useful French language webpages on this topic. One source contained the important 1943 citation in which Hall ascribed the quotation to herself.