‘Who Said It’ Quiz

 

“My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular. Where it is safe to say what’s on your mind, especially when everyone disagrees. Where it’s safe to believe what you believe, especially when everyone else’s beliefs stand elsewhere.”

Hint: Not a Republican
Hint: Not a Libertarian
Hint: Not a Democratic Socialist

Ready?

Hint: A.S.

Scroll a bit more…

Answer: Adlai Stevenson, quoted by Kevin D. Williamson in National Review, May 20, 2019.

Yup. We had such men at one time.

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There are 8 comments.

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  1. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    I was going to guess H. L. Mencken.

    Good quote. :-)

    • #1
  2. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    There have to be exceptions.  For example, are you really safe in a free society if you call a 6’4″, 320 lb professional football player’s mother a “ho”?

    Didn’t think so.  However, I understand the gist of the quote, and think it’s very good . . .

    • #2
  3. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    You’re just defending the patriarchy, you hater.

    • #3
  4. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    GFHandle: Answer: Adlai Stevenson

    Be specific, old son. There’s five of them.

    • #4
  5. GFHandle Member
    GFHandle
    @GFHandle

    Arahant (View Comment):

    GFHandle: Answer: Adlai Stevenson

    Be specific, old son. There’s five of them.

    Yikes.

    • #5
  6. GFHandle Member
    GFHandle
    @GFHandle

    Stad (View Comment):

    There have to be exceptions. For example, are you really safe in a free society if you call a 6’4″, 320 lb professional football player’s mother a “ho”?

    Didn’t think so. However, I understand the gist of the quote, and think it’s very good . . .

    Probably depends on circumstances, tone, etc. But yeah. And he probably didn’t mean you could yell “Fire” in a theater where everyone else, including the fire brigade, was of the opinion that there was no fire, for that matter. After all, Adlai was what they then called an “egghead.”

    • #6
  7. Keith Rice Inactive
    Keith Rice
    @KeithRice

    Was this quote not a response to the HUAC hearings meaning still rather partisan?

    • #7
  8. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    It’s nice that leftists were once liberal. 

    • #8
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