Meiklejohn Quotes & Sayings

Meiklejohn's position is that free speech in a democracy is not an absolute flowing from the boundless source of some presumed 'natural right.' It is a practical necessity of 'self-government by universal suffrage,' for if the citizens are not permitted to argue out the issues of government, how can they be what they must be in a democracy - the rulers as well as the ruled? — Max Lerner

There is, I think, nothing in the world more futile than the attempt to find out how a task should be done when one has not yet decided what the task is. — Alexander Meiklejohn

Whatever the immediate gains and losses, the dangers to our safety arising from political suppression are always greater than the dangers to the safety resulting from political freedom. Suppression is always foolish. Freedom is always wise. — Alexander Meiklejohn

We can bury our heads in the sand and choose to ignore what is going around us, or we can look with new eyes, the eyes of the heart, upon the distortions of the past to walk again in authenticity and truth. — Barbara Meiklejohn-Free

Democracy is the art of thinking independently together. — Alexander Meiklejohn

Freedom is always wise. — Alexander Meiklejohn

Whatever may be the immediate gains and losses, the dangers to our safety arising from political suppression are always greater than the dangers to that safety arising from political freedom. Suppression is always foolish. Freedom is always wise. That is the faith, the experimental faith, by which we Americans have undertaken to live. — Alexander Meiklejohn

Civilization is not a burden. It is an opportunity. — Alexander Meiklejohn