William J. Brennan, Jr. - Ideas Quotes

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All ideas having even the slightest redeeming social importance—unorthodox ideas, controversial ideas, even ideas hateful to the prevailing climate of opinion—have the full protection of the guaranties.... But implicit in the history of the First Amendment is the rejection of obscenity as utterly without redeeming social importance.

William J. Brennan, Jr.

The nation's future depends upon leaders trained through wide exposure to that robust exchange of ideas which discovers truth 'out of a multitude of tongues'.

William J. Brennan, Jr.

If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.

William J. Brennan, Jr.