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About this quote

What does it mean?
The First Amendment is often inconvenient, but inconvenience does not excuse the government from tolerating speech.
In plain terms
Government must tolerate speech even when it's inconvenient.
What can you take from it?
Free speech obligations persist despite practical difficulties.

Where it applies

  • policy enforcement
  • public protests
  • media regulation

Putting it to work

  • defend speech rights
  • challenge restrictive laws
  • educate officials on free speech

Questions to consider

  • What limits, if any, are permissible on speech?
  • How can governments balance inconvenience with constitutional duty?

Another view

Practical constraints may still limit speech in certain contexts.

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