freedom of expression

This freedom of communication is indispensable for the development and extension of scientific knowledge, a consideration of much practical import. In the first instance it must be guaranteed by law. But laws alone cannot secure freedom of expression; in order that every man may present his views without penalty there must be a spirit of tolerance in the entire population. Such an ideal of external liberty can never be fully attained but must be sought unremittingly if scientific thought, and philosophical and creative thinking in general, are to be advanced as far as possible.

1950, Albert Einstein, Out of My Later Years, Kensington Publishing Corp., page 13; "On Freedom" (1940)

Any test that turns on what is offensive to the community's standards is too loose, too capricious, too destructive of freedom of expression to be squared with the First Amendment. Under that test, juries can censor, suppress, and punish what they don’t like, provided the matter relates to "sexual impurity" or has a tendency "to excite lustful thoughts". This is community censorship in one of its worst forms. It creates a regime where in the battle between the literati and the Philistines, the Philistines are certain to win.

1957, William O. Douglas, Roth v. United States, Supreme Court of the United States, pages 354 U.S. 476, 512

Freedom of expression would not truly exist if the right could be exercised only in an area that a benevolent government has provided as a safe haven for crackpots. The Constitution says that Congress (and the States) may not abridge the right to free speech. This provision means what it says.

1969, Abe Fortas, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, Supreme Court of the United States, page 393 U.S. 503

Strode's Act in the Parliament of 1512 was the first statute to protect such early freedom of expression, although limited to members of Parliament.

1996, John S. Gibson, Dictionary of International Human Rights Law, Scarecrow Press, Inc., page 79

Freedom of expression is essentially another, and perhaps more accurate, way of referring to the composite of rights usually labelled freedom of speech.

1997, David Robertson, A Dictionary of Human Rights, Europa Publications Limited, page 89