Political agitation, by the passions it arouses or the convictions it engenders, may in fact stimulate men to the violation of the law. Detestation of existing policies is easily transformed into forcible resistance of the authority which puts them in execution, and it would be folly to disregard the causal relation between the two. Yet to assimilate agitation, legitimate as such, with direct incitement to violent resistance, is to disregard the tolerance of all methods of political agitation which in normal times is a safeguard of free government.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Political passion can lead to lawbreaking, but legitimate agitation must be distinguished from direct incitement to violence to preserve free government.
- In plain terms
- Politics can cause unrest, but we should not confuse lawful protest with calls for violence.
- What can you take from it?
- Distinguish between legitimate protest and violent incitement to protect civil liberties.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does protest cross the line into incitement?
- How do you protect free speech while preventing violence?
Another view
It can be difficult to draw a clear line between agitation and incitement in practice.
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