[sarettah]

I've never seen, nor heard, nor smelled anything so dangerous it can't be talked about (misquote from the play 1776)

Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech.

Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.

Ben Franklin

The First Amendment is often inconvenient. But that is besides the point. Inconvenience does not absolve the government of its obligation to tolerate speech.

Justice Anthony Kennedy (1936 - )

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.

Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826), to Archibald Stuart, 1791

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

First amendment to the constitution