Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
The Constitution guarantees not only free speech but also the right to a trial by jury rather than trial by accusation.
In plain terms
Our law protects speech and the right to a fair jury trial.
What can you take from it?
Remember both speech freedom and jury trials as constitutional rights.

Where it applies

  • courtroom
  • legislative debate
  • civic education

Putting it to work

  • teach constitutional basics
  • defend jury rights
  • oppose speech suppression

Questions to consider

  • Why is jury trial emphasized alongside free speech?
  • How can citizens protect these rights today?

Another view

Interpretations of the Constitution can vary over time.

More from Margaret Chase Smith

  1. My creed is that public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation with f…

    Permalink to quote #1
  2. I speak as briefly as possible because too much harm has already been done with irresponsible words of bitterness and selfish political opportunism. I speak as…

    Permalink to quote #3
  3. The United States Senate has long enjoyed worldwide respect as the greatest deliberative body in the world. But recently that deliberative character has too of…

    Permalink to quote #4

Related quotes

  1. The First Amendment is often inconvenient. But that is beside the point. Inconvenience does not absolve the government of its obligation to tolerate speech.

    Anthony KennedyAnthony Kennedy quote #4
  2. I have many things to say. My every right, constitutional, civil, political and judicial has been tramped upon. I have not only had no jury of my peers, but I …

    Susan B. AnthonySusan B. Anthony quote #17
  3. An act against the Constitution is void; an act against natural equity is void.

    James OtisJames Otis quote #1