J. Paul Getty Quotes

Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive.

There are people who consider it almost unpatriotic to be inquisitive and to be truthful about your opinions.

Silence is so often applauded and those who speak out are often called tasteless.

To silence criticism is to silence freedom.

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

I know of no country in which there is so little independence of mind and real freedom of discussion as in America.

If I were to say what I really think I would be arrested or shut away in a lunatic asylum. Come on, I am sure that it would be the same for everyone.

People may believe that there can be a society where dissent is not permitted, but which is nonetheless not a fear society because everyone agrees with one another and therefore no one wants to dissent.

Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom of speech.

Censorship is the conscience of society.

We must never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.

No member of any society has a right to teach any doctrine contrary to what the society holds to be true.

We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.

I am not an American who believes that questioning or criticizing my government is unpatriotic.

Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels -- men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, we may never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion

Dissidents are despicable parasites

The public does not necessarily want to hear, much less to act on unsettling or disturbing findings… censorship can be, and is frequently supported by the majority of the population.

Heretics have been hated from the beginning of recorded time; they have been ostracized, exiled, tortured, maimed, and butchered; but it has generally proved impossible to smother them; and when it has not, the society that has succeeded has always declined.

The citizen who criticizes his country is paying it an indirect tribute.

No free speech for traitors.

Anonymous pamphlets, leaflets, brochures and even books have played an important role in the progress of mankind. Persecuted groups and sects from time to time throughout history have been able to criticize the oppressive practices and laws either anonymously or not at all... It is plain that anonymity has sometimes been assumed for the most constructive purposes.

There will always be authorities who try to make their own lives more comfortable by suppressing critical comment.

It would be a tragedy for democracy if dissent goes away.

I don't think it's entirely paranoid to suspect that one day, you won't be able to so much as question the primary tenets of anti-racism without going to jail.

Almost half of the Turkish population believes it is not legitimate to criticize the government. Interestingly, this correlates with the number of supporters of Erdogan's government.