It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them.

The mutual confidence on which all else depends can be maintained only by an open mind and a brave reliance upon free discussion.

Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence.

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most impressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be saturated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

It was while helping others to be free that I gained my own freedom.

All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.

Wherever there is injustice, war, discrimination against women, gays and the disadvantaged, I did my best to show up and exert moral persuasion.

All tyrannies rule through fraud and force, but once the fraud is exposed they must rely exclusively on force.

You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.

The overwhelming importance of the atmosphere means that there are no longer any frontiers to defend against pollution, attack, or propaganda. It means, further, that only by a deep patriotic devotion to one’s country can there be a hope of the kind of protection of the whole planet, which is necessary for the survival of the people of other countries.

What light is to the eyes - what air is to the lungs - what love is to the heart, liberty is to the soul of man.

Liberty without Learning is always in peril and Learning without Liberty is always in vain.

The world would be happier if men had the same capacity to be silent that they have to speak.

Think lovingly, speak lovingly, act lovingly, and every need shall be supplied.

Some people’s idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage.

Understanding a question is half an answer.

The day will soon come when I will show the world that the transmission of power and speech without the aid of any wires is possible.

Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech.