Freedom of the press

Explore 12 quotes about Freedom of the press

Some degree of abuse is inseparable from the proper use of every thing; and in no instance is this more true, than in that of the press. It has accordingly been decided by the practice of the States, that it is better to leave a few of its noxious branches to their luxuriant growth, than by pruning them away, to injure the vigor of those yielding the proper fruits.

James Madison

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Topic

Freedom of the press

Author

James Madison

Language

English

Time

1800 1800s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Madison, James. Report of 1800. Philadelphia, Jan. 1800.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "Report on the Alien and Sedition Acts, January 7, 1800." James Madison: Writings, edited by Jack Rakove. Library of America, 1999.

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

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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

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.

The freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.

George Mason

Virginia Bill of Rights

Read The Virginia Declaration of Rights at the National Archives website

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Topic

Freedom of the press

Author

George Mason

Source

Virginia Bill of Rights

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Mason, George. Virginia Bill of Rights. 12 June 1776, article 12.

The press, confined to truth, needs no other legal restraint; the public judgment will correct false reasonings and opinions, on a full hearing of all parties; and no other definite line can be drawn between the inestimable liberty of the press and its demoralizing licentiousness.

Thomas Jefferson

Second Inaugural Address of Thomas Jefferson

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Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website

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Topic

Freedom of the press

Speaker

Thomas Jefferson

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Thomas Jefferson Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1805 1800s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "Second Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1805, Senate Chamber, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Our liberty depends on freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.

Thomas Jefferson

Read this letter at the National Archives website

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Topic

Freedom of the press First Amendment Constitutional theory

Author

Thomas Jefferson

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1786 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to James Currie. 28 Jan. 1786.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "Letter to James Currie, 28 Jan. 1786." The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, edited by Julian P. Boyd. Vol. 9, Princeton University Press, 1954.

If we think to regulate printing, thereby to rectify manners, we must regulate all recreations and pastimes, all that is delightful to man... And who shall silence all the airs and madrigals, that whisper softness in chambers?

John Milton

Areopagitica

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Read Areopagitica at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

Freedom of the press Freedom of speech and expression

Author

John Milton

Source

Areopagitica

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1644 1640s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Milton, John. Areopagitica; a speech of Mr. John Milton for the liberty of unlicenc'd printing, to the Parlament of England. 1644.

Current Citation

Milton, John. "Areopagitica." John Milton: Major Works, edited by Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg. Oxford University Press, 2008.

Our Republic and its press will rise or fall together.

Joseph Pulitzer

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Topic

Freedom of the press Media

Author

Joseph Pulitzer

Language

English

Time

1904 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Pulitzer, Joseph. "The College of Journalism.” The North American Review, May 1904.

Publicity is the very soul of justice. It is the keenest spur to exertion, and the surest of all guards against improbity.

Jeremy Bentham

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Topic

Publicity Freedom of the press

Author

Jeremy Bentham

Source

Publicity in the Courts of Justice

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1832 1830s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Bentham, Jeremy. Publicity in the Courts of Justice. 1843.

I'm with you on the free press. It's the newspapers I can't stand.

Tom Stoppard

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Topic

Freedom of the press Newspapers Media

Speaker

Ruth

Author

Tom Stoppard

Source

Night and Day

Medium

Play

Genre

Drama (play)

Language

English

Time

1978 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Stoppard, Tom. Night and Day. 8 Nov. 1978, Phoenix Theatre, London, England, UK, act 1.

Current Citation

Stoppard, Tom. Night and Day. Grove Press, 2018, act 1.

Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.

A.J. Liebling

The Wayward Press

Read this essay in the New Yorker

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Topic

Freedom of the press Media Power Politics Media criticism

Author

A.J. Liebling

Source

The Wayward Press

Medium

Essay

Language

English

Time

1960 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Liebling, A. J. "The Wayward Press: Do You Belong in Journalism?" The New Yorker, 7 May 1960.

The people must know before they can act, and there is no educator to compare with the press.

Ida B. Wells

More information about this quote

Topic

Knowledge is power Freedom of the press

Author

Ida B. Wells

Source

Southern Horrors

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1892 1890s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Wells, Ida B. "Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases." 5 Oct. 1892, New York City, NY, USA.

Current Citation

Wells, Ida B. "Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases." Great Speeches by American Women. Dover Publications, 2012.

There is no part of the means placed in the hands of the Executive which might be used with greater effect for unhallowed purposes than the control of the public press.

William Henry Harrison

Inaugural Address of William Henry Harrison

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Topic

Freedom of the press

Speaker

William Henry Harrison

Source

Inaugural Address of William Henry Harrison Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1841 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Harrison, William Henry. "Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1841, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.