Freedom of the Park

Explore 1 quote from Freedom of the Park

The relative freedom which we enjoy depends of public opinion. The law is no protection. Governments make laws, but whether they are carried out, and how the police behave, depends on the general temper in the country. If large numbers of people are interested in freedom of speech, there will be freedom of speech, even if the law forbids it; if public opinion is sluggish, inconvenient minorities will be persecuted, even if laws exist to protect them.

George Orwell

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More information about this quote

Topic

Public opinion Legal theory Political theory

Author

George Orwell

Source

Freedom of the Park Tribune

Medium

Essay Newspaper

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1945 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Orwell, George. “Freedom of the Park.” Tribune, 7 Dec. 1945.

Current Citation

Orwell, George. "Freedom of the Park." The Collected Essays, Journalism and Letters of George Orwell, vol. 4: In Front of Your Nose 1945-1950, edited by Sonia Orwell and Ian Angus. David R. Godine, 1999, no. 11.