On the record
The government may decide that William Godwin is innocuous; but it will not hesitate to convict Tom Paine--in truth far less drastic--of high treason.
Said by
Harold J. Laski
Source
gutenberg.orgHarold J. Laski: “The government may decide that William Godwin is innocuous; but it will not hesitate to convict Tom Paine--in truth far…”
Editor's note · Context
This quote illustrates the selective nature of governmental repression based on perceived threats to authority.
Share
More from Harold J. Laski
If the American colonies want to go, let them by all means cut adrift.
The case for the view that freedom of thought and speech is a good in itself is fairly easy to make.
Montesquieu thus became the prophet of a new race of thinkers.
Liberty means self-government, and self-government means the right of every man to be his own legislator.
Other voices in this conversation
