Quotes About Speech

I think the adverb is a much-maligned part of speech. It's always accused of being oppressive, even tyrannical, when in fact it's so supple and sly.

It's good that the first half of the speech emphasized freedom, because George W. Bush has been the global champion for freedom. As he said, if we don't fight tyranny it will not leave us alone in peace.

Mike Tyson and Kool G Rap had lisps - lisps always been cool!

Beautiful speech doesn't need protection, it's ugly speech that needs protection. We have these cultural norms that allow people to say really ugly things. You don't have to invite them to your dinner party, but you should let them say it.

It's really hard to truly want people who you hate to have the right to say whatever they want. And we all disguise the ugly self-centeredness of it.

I'm often loose with my tongue. I may have said something about the NAACP being un-American or Communist, but I meant no harm by it.

Censorship is un-American, and it's egregious that any journalist would advocate for others to be banned for political speech.

For many Americans the term 'speech code' sends shivers up the spine. Yet these noxious and un-American codes have become commonplace on college campuses across the United States.

For the Oscars, I had a speech in my hand, and I just knew if I opened the piece of paper, I was going to be unable to read it. So I just thought, 'I'm going to say, as coherently as I can, whatever I can.'

I would not want to be unable to talk. Imagine not being able to talk when you're a talkative person.

Banning hate speech doesn't end racism or antisemitism. Social pressure does that. It becomes socially unacceptable.

There are two ways of looking at the talking filibuster. My way is as a form of unanimous consent.

I ask unanimous consent that I be able to deliver a floor speech on immigration reform in Spanish.

It is actually unbelievable that somebody would be deprived of his livelihood for expressing an opinion that he's entitled to.

We must not fall into the trap of thinking speech that offends is speech that must be forbidden. A healthy culture demands that much of us, to equip the next generation of Americans with the knowledge and reason they will need to confront an uncertain future.

Barack Obama can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting, and never use the word "victory" except when he's talking about his own campaign.

So far as I am concerned I have no doctrinaire belief in free speech. In the interest of the war it is necessary to sacrifice some of it.

A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during the good times and will avoid punishment during the bad.

I would argue that in times of war, sealed lips sink entire democracies. If we don't have access to vital information, we lose everything.

Be a craftsman in speech that thou mayest be strong, for the strength of one is the tongue, and speech is mightier than all fighting.

[I]n my own case at least I feel my professional need for freedom of speech and expression prejudices me toward a government whose constitution guarantees it.

People count with self-satisfaction the number of times they have recited the name of God on their prayer beads, but they keep no beads for reckoning the number of idle words they speak.

I have never regretted my silence. As for my speech, I have regretted it over and over again.

Before you speak, ask yourself, is it kind, is it necessary, is it true, does it improve the silence?