James Carville Quotes

I always think the true test of free speech is when someone says something you don't like.

Once you permit those who are convinced of their own superior rightness to censor and silence and suppress those who hold contrary opinions, just at that moment the citadel has been surrendered.

Opinion and protest are the life breath of democracy—even when it blows heavy.

Constant pressure by Turkish consulates across the United States, as well as pervasive and continual harassment by the government in Turkey, has so far failed to stifle my dissent. As they increase the pressure, I raise my voice.

As a life-long liberal who has engaged in protests against the government and for civil rights, I am saddened at efforts by some of my fellow liberals to silence commencement speakers with whom they might disagree on some issues.

Once you start choking the space for dissent in a democracy, people feel pushed to the wall and then it leads to further dissent and alienation.

My books were attacked constantly by the Communist Party for not hewing to the Party line. I have never hewed to a Party line of any kind.

I don't care if you're Republican or a Democrat or a Liberal, getting crucified for the way you think or believe, obviously if it's not hurting anyone, it's just Un-American.

If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.

So I decided the only place I can speak to the world is from outside Israel.

For some reason, I seem to be bothered whenever I see acts of injustice and assaults on people's civil liberties. I imagine what I write in the future will follow in that vein. Whether it's fiction or non-fiction.

There are good reasons for being in jail - for protesting.

What's surprising is that the people who fought against torture here are the communists.

Will dissent be permitted? The answer to that question will determine whether the society is a free society or a fear society.

I don't believe in this idea of, 'That's hate speech, stop it.'

In a democracy, dissent is an act of faith.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that you have to agree with people and their beliefs to defend them from injustice.

It is easy to believe in freedom of speech for those with whom we agree.

Without alienation, there can be no politics.

You know, everybody believes in free speech until you start questioning them about it.

A simple way to determine whether the right to dissent in a particular society is being upheld is to apply the town square test: Can a person walk into the middle of the town square and express his or her views without fear of arrest, imprisonment, or physical harm? If he can, then that person is living in a free society. If not, it's a fear society.

I know that liberalism isn't dead in this country.... It simply has, temporarily we hope, lost its voice.

America's dissidents are not committed to mental hospitals and sent into exile; they thrive and prosper and buy a house in Nantucket and take flyers in the commodities market.

Alas, how many have been persecuted for the wrong of having been right?

People have a right to say what they want without being killed. These Islamic groups have to be stopped. I just can't sit down and do nothing.