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Be not intimidated, therefore, by any terrors, from publishing with the utmost freedom, whatever can be warranted by the laws of your country; nor suffer yourselves to be wheedled out of your liberties by any pretenses of politeness, delicacy, or decency. These, as they are often used, are but three different names for hypocrisy, chicanery, and cowardice.

John Adams#68

EthicsFreedomMediaCourageHypocrisyFree speechPublishing

About this quote

What does it mean?
Do not let fear or false pretenses of politeness stop you from publishing freely; such pretenses are often hypocrisy.
In plain terms
Fear and false politeness shouldn't stop free publishing; they're hypocrisy.
What can you take from it?
Publish boldly, ignoring pretentious excuses.

Where it applies

  • journalism
  • blogging

Putting it to work

  • write without self‑censorship
  • challenge double standards

Questions to consider

  • How do you balance freedom with responsibility?

Another view

Irresponsible publishing can cause real harm.

More from John Adams

  1. The jaws of power are always open to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing.

    Permalink to quote #67
  2. Let us tenderly and kindly cherish therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.

    Permalink to quote #69
  3. Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right, from the frame of their nature, to knowledge, as their great Creato…

    Permalink to quote #66

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