Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
A free society allows people to hold and express unpopular opinions without fear.
In plain terms
Safety to be unpopular is a sign of freedom.
What can you take from it?
Freedom includes the safety to disagree.

Where it applies

  • public discourse
  • civil rights
  • free speech

Putting it to work

  • protect dissent
  • speak freely
  • respect minorities

Questions to consider

  • Is it safe to disagree where you live?
  • Who protects unpopular views?

Another view

Unpopular opinions can sometimes cause harm or division.

More from Adlai Stevenson

  1. The Republicans have a 'me too' candidate running on a 'yes but' platform, advised by a 'has been' staff.

    Permalink to quote #25
  2. Nothing so dates a man as to decry the younger generation.

    Permalink to quote #27
  3. Understanding human needs is half the job of meeting them.

    Permalink to quote #24

Related quotes

  1. There is one tradition in America I am proud to inherit. It is our first freedom and the truest expression of our Americanism: the ability to dissent without f…

    Natalie MerchantNatalie Merchant quote #1
  2. If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one perso…

    John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill quote #19
  3. If we confuse dissent with disloyalty - if we deny the right of the individual to be wrong, unpopular, eccentric or unorthodox - if we deny the essence of raci…

    Edward R. MurrowEdward R. Murrow quote #3