The history of liberty has largely been the history of the observance of procedural safeguards.
It is easy to make light of insistence on scrupulous regard for the safeguards of civil liberties when invoked on behalf of the unworthy. It is too easy. History bears testimony that by such disregard are the rights of liberty extinguished, heedlessly at first, then stealthily, and brazenly in the end.
Freedom of the press is not an end in itself but a means to the end of a free society.
Freedom of expression is the well-spring of our civilization... The history of civilization is in considerable measure the displacement of error which once held sway as official truth by beliefs which in turn have yielded to other truths. Therefore the liberty of man to search for truth ought not to be fettered, no matter what orthodoxies he may challenge.
The ultimate foundation of a free society is the binding tie of cohesive sentiment.
The ultimate touchstone of constitutionality is the Constitution itself, and not what we have said about it.
It is a fair summary of history to say that the safeguards of liberty have been forged in controversies involving not very nice people.
Liberty of thought soon shrivels without freedom of expression. Nor can truth be pursued in an atmosphere hostile to the endeavor or under dangers which are hazarded only by heroes.
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