Mastodawn

We cannot have a society half slave and half free; nor can we have thought half slave and half free. If we create an atmosphere in which men fear to think independently, inquire fearlessly, express themselves freely, we will in the end create the kind of society in which men no longer care to think independently or to inquire fearlessly.

Henry Steele Commager (1902-1998) American historian, writer, activist
Essay (1949-11-05), “What Ideas Are Safe?” Saturday Review

More about this quote: wist.info/commager-henry-steel…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #henrycommager #fear #freeexpression #freedomofspeech #freedomofthought #freethinking #independence #inquiry #intellectualfreedom #oppression #questioning #thoughtcontrol

Fabrice BEAUDOIN-QUÉRÉ Mar 9

“IL N’Y A QUE LES #IMBÉCILES POUR #PENSER #AUTREMENT …” #RealDonaldTrump #TruthSocial
#POTUS #librepensee #freethinking

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RoundSparrow Mar 3

#AllOurMediaSins #OurMediaSins #MediaSins
#MediaEcologySins /\ #FWakeMediaSins #FWakeSins
#TimFinnegan #FinnegansWake

Tim Finnegan Fell, we wrote a song, for ALL #PLURIBUS our Media Sins. #StoneMason #FreeThinking https://peterchrisp.blogspot.com/2016/06/

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satire Dec 21

@MostlyHarmless Free of Thinking isn’t the same as Free Thinking, it would seem.

It seems to be that we have the political equivalent “why do you keep punching yourself?” Going on.

#humor #exceptWeAreLivingIt #freeThinking #poorAndGullible

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Nov 24

A quotation from John Adams

Let the human Mind loose. It must be loose; it will be loose. Superstition and Despotism cannot confine it.

John Adams (1735-1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797-1801)
Letter (1816-11-13) to John Quincy Adams

More about this quote: wist.info/adams-john/6140/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #johnadams #despotism #dogma #freethought #freedom #liberty #orthodoxy #superstition #tyranny #freethinking

Letter (1816-11-13) to John Quincy Adams - Adams, John | WIST Quotations

Let the human Mind loose. It must be loose; it will be loose. Superstition and Despotism cannot confine it.

WIST Quotations

Aurélien🔻Aug 12, 2025

A perfect summary.

(Link: https://xcancel.com/JehadAbusalim/status/1954913553955037592)

#repression #freedom #censorship #tyranny #israel #palestine #zionism #freedomofthepress #freedomofassembly #freedomofthought #freethinking

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Jul 17, 2025

A quotation from Moliere

CLÉANTE:These are the arguments of all your kind:
   Since they can’t see, they think that no one ought;
   Whoever does, is tainted with free thought;
   Whoever balks at pious affectation
   Fails to hold piety in veneration.
   Come now, for all your talk, I’m not afraid;
   Heaven sees my heart, and I know what I’ve said.

[Voilà de vos pareils le discours ordinaire:
Ils veulent que chacun soit aveugle comme eux;
C’est être libertin que d’avoir de bons yeux;
Et qui n’adore pas de vaines simagrées
N’a ni respect ni foi pour les choses sacrées.
Allez, tous vos discours ne me font point de peur;
Je sais comme je parle, et le ciel voit mon cœur.]

Molière (1622-1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]
Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L’Imposteur], Act 1, sc. 6 (1669) [tr. Frame (1967), 1.5]

Sourcing, notes, other translations: wist.info/moliere/77776/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #moliere #tartuffe #accusations #blindness #clearseeing #conscience #devotion #freethought #freethinking #heresy #impiety #orthodoxy #piety #religion