What did Ben Franklin say about free speech?
Asked by: Kellen Hartmann V | Last update: January 30, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (66 votes)
Benjamin Franklin famously stated, "Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom—and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech," emphasizing its necessity for a free society, and also asserted, "Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; when this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected on its ruins," highlighting its foundational role in democracy, with these ideas rooted in early writings like his Silence Dogood letters.
What did Benjamin Franklin say about free speech?
Benjamin Franklin once said “Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom – and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.” The United States provides protections for free speech.
What did Ben Franklin say about freedom?
1, refers to Benjamin Franklin's famous quote, "Those who would give up Essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
What was Ben Franklin's famous quote?
For example, one of the most-popular sayings attributed to Franklin is, “a penny saved is a penny earned.” This appears to be a combination of two Franklin proverbs. Other famous Franklin quotes are well-documented. In “Advice To A Young Tradesman,” Franklin writes that, “Remember that time is money.”
What is a famous quote about free speech?
"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech." ―Silence Dogood, likely pseudonym of Benjamin Franklin.
Inspirational Quotes: Ben Franklin on Free Speech
What did Churchill say about free speech?
Winston Churchill – "Some people's idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage." 🗣️ Churchill highlights hypocrisy: many demand freedom to speak but resist accountability.
What did Mark Twain say about free speech?
It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practise either of them.
What did Benjamin Franklin say in his speech?
Thus, I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die.
What was Benjamin Franklin's moral code?
Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly. JUSTICE.
What did Benjamin Franklin say about the Declaration of Independence?
Abstract. At the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, Benjamin Franklin reportedly quipped "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately". In this bicentennial year, it seems appropriate to provide the following visual confirmation of Franklin's words.
What is Franklin's famous line?
Benjamin Franklin has many famous lines, but some of the most well-known include "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes", often cited for its wit on inevitability, and practical advice from Poor Richard's Almanack, like "Time is money" and "Well done is better than well said". He also famously said, "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety", showing his views on freedom, according to NPR.
What is the most famous quote about freedom?
There isn't one single "most famous" quote, but top contenders often include Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty, or give me death!" for its revolutionary spirit, Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed" for civil rights, and George Orwell's profound observation, "Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four," from 1984, highlighting truth and critical thought. Other popular choices emphasize personal responsibility or the essence of liberty, like Jean-Paul Sartre's "Man is condemned to be free" or Nelson Mandela's "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world," often linked to liberation.
What is a patriotic quote from Benjamin Franklin?
Benjamin Franklin expressed the goal of America's experiment in liberty when he said, “God grant that not only the love of liberty but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth, so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say: This is my country.”
What did Thomas Jefferson say about freedom of speech?
A year later, Jefferson suggested to Madison that the free speech-free press clause might read something like: The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write or otherwise to publish anything but false facts affecting injuriously the life, liberty, property, or reputation of others or ...
What is Benjamin Franklin's 1 hour rule?
Franklin planned and managed his time and activities in a disciplined way. A tool he developed for himself was the five-hour rule. The rule dictates that five hours each week must be spent learning – one hour each day, excepting weekends.
What did Franklin Roosevelt say about freedom?
The speech delivered by President Roosevelt incorporated the following text, known as the "Four Freedoms": In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech, and expression—everywhere in the world.
What is Ben Franklin's most famous quote?
Benjamin Franklin's most famous sayings often center on thrift, industry, and wisdom, with "A penny saved is a penny earned" being widely attributed, though he wrote variations like "A penny saved is two pence clear," emphasizing saving money as earning it. Other popular quotes include "Time is money" and his famous observation, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes".
What was Benjamin Franklin's IQ?
While Benjamin Franklin never took an IQ test, historians and psychologists estimate his IQ to be around 160, placing him in the "genius" or "extraordinary genius" category, based on his vast achievements as a statesman, inventor, writer, and diplomat, though some estimates vary slightly. This estimation is derived from studies like Catharine Morris Cox's, which analyzed historical figures' works and contributions.
What are the 12 principles of Ben Franklin?
Then he considered various virtues that, if mastered, would counteract his unwanted behavior. His list of 13: Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Chastity and Humility.
What did Benjamin Franklin say about freedom of speech?
“Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as publick Liberty, without Freedom of Speech; which is the Right of every Man, as far as by it, he does not hurt or controul the Right of another: And this is the only Check it ought to suffer, and the only Bounds it ought to know.
What is a famous quote about freedom of speech?
“Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such thing as Wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without Freedom of Speech.” “Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error.”
What did Thomas Jefferson think of Benjamin Franklin?
What did Thomas Jefferson think of Benjamin Franklin? Thomas Jefferson had significant respect for Benjamin Franklin. The man had served as his mentor for many years and they were close friends.
What did George Orwell say about freedom of speech?
importance of being able to say what one thinks is true underlies the famous Orwellian aphorism from Nineteen Eighty-Four that 'Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.
What did Winston Churchill say about free speech?
some people's idea of it [debate] is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage. 1943, 13 OCTOBER. In conclusion, Winston Churchill may be credited with the words he spoke in Parliament in 1943.
What is a famous quote about freedom?
Famous quotes on freedom emphasize its link to responsibility, courage, and self-development, highlighting that it's earned, not just given, and requires protecting for others, with key examples from Mandela, Gandhi, Orwell, and MLK Jr., viewing it as the power to choose right, the chance to be better, and the right to speak truth.