That if all Printers were determin’d not to print any thing till they were sure it would offend no body, there would be very little printed.

Benjamin Franklin

Read An Apology for Printers at the National Archives website

More information about this quote

Topic

Freedom of the press Offensive speech Freedom of speech and expression

Author

Benjamin Franklin

Source

Apology for Printers The Pennsylvania Gazette

Medium

Essay Newspaper

Language

English

Time

1731 1730s 18th century

Era

Colonial America

Occupation

Founding Father Politician Writer

From

United States

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Franklin, Benjamin. "Apology for Printers," The Pennsylvania Gazette, 10 June 1731.

Current Citation

Franklin, Benjamin. "Apology for Printers." Benjamin Franklin: Silence Dogood, The Busy-Body and Early Writings, edited by J. A. Leo Lemay. Library of America, 2005.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Benjamin Franklin about freedom of the press: “That if all Printers were determin’d not to print any thing…”
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A quote by Benjamin Franklin about freedom of the press: “That if all Printers were determin’d not to print any thing…”
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A quote by Benjamin Franklin about freedom of the press: “That if all Printers were determin’d not to print any thing…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from the 1730s

Power may justly be compared to a great River, while kept within its due Bonds, is both Beautiful and Useful; but when it overflows its Banks, it is then too impetuous to be stemm'd, it bears down all before it, and brings Destruction and Desolation wherever it comes. If then this is the Nature of Power, let us at least do our Duty, and like wise Men (who value Freedom) use our utmost Care to support Liberty, the only Bulwark against lawless Power, which in all Ages has sacrificed to it's wild Lust and boundless Ambition, the Blood of the best Men that ever liv'd.

Andrew Hamilton

More information about this quote
Topic
Nature of power Power
Speaker
Andrew Hamilton
Language
English
Time
1735 1730s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Hamilton, Andrew. Argument in John Peter Zenger Trial. 1735, New York's City Hall, New York, NY, USA.

Another quote from Colonial America

Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of.

Poor Richard (Benjamin Franklin)

Buy Poor Richard's Almanack at Amazon Buy Poor Richard's Almanack at Amazon
Read this proverb at the National Archives website
More information about this quote
Topic
Wasting time Time Nature of life

Author

Poor Richard (Benjamin Franklin)
Source
Poor Richard's Almanack
Medium
Almanac
Statement Type
Advice
Language
English
Time
1746 1740s 18th century
Era
Colonial America
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Franklin, Benjamin [published as Richard Saunders]. Poor Richard's Almanack. Philadelphia, 1746.

Current Citation

Franklin, Benjamin. "Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1746." Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography, Poor Richard, and Later Writings, edited by J. A. Leo Lemay. Library of America, 2005.