Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. Eisenhower, (1890-1969), 34th US President, WWII General

Dwight D. Eisenhower Quote

“It is an ancient truth that freedom cannot be legislated into existence, so it is no less obvious that freedom cannot be censored into existence. And any who act as if freedom’s defenses are found in suppression and suspicion and fear confess a doctrine that is alien to America.”

Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. Eisenhower
~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

Letter, 24 June 1953

Ratings and Comments


Guess Who
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  • Reply
    Guess Who    5/12/08

    I agree with the first sentence,first half of this quote and disagree with the second sentence. This "doctrine" referred to as "alien" to America has,on the contrary,become part of the fabric of 21st Century America in my considered opinion.

    J Carlton, Calgary

    Freedom is natural and must be defended. That requires very few laws.

    Waffler, Smith, Arkansas

    This was during the height of the right wing McCarthy witch hunts. Our desire to contol our lives sometimes results in a desire to conrol others with whom we come in contact like the media. The proof of our freedom is in the freedom of the press and the freedom of pop culture which we might find disgusting.

    warren, olathe

    The facts are coming out little by little that the "witch hunts" were not witch hunts at all. McCarthy was right about the communists in the government. Now you can no longer call a communist a communist.

    RobertSRQ
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    RobertSRQ    5/12/08

    I always thought the current administration were aliens

    Joe, North Caldwell, NJ

    Gimme a break, Warren. McCarthy never found a single communist. Not one.

    E Archer, NYC

    "And any who act as if freedom's defenses are found in suppression and suspicion and fear confess a doctrine that is alien to America." The 'War on Terror' thus is completely unAmerican. Cowardice is alien to Liberty.

    Mike, Norwalk

    WOW

    Shelley, Arlington, VA

    Marvelous. And from a Republican and a great warrior!

    thereisawayJose, Kauai Hi

    Nice quote but 1- America is a continent 2 -the America that he refers to ( USA ) was founded upon the blood of The Natives of this land by suppression of their freedoms, freedoms still being suppressed 3- all trough out the history of the ( USA ) up to the present we see that suppression of freedoms of several groups.... So it is the same old same old Bhla, Bhla, bhla

    Gert Jan Mevius, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    I am not an American but I fully agree.

    Mike, Norwalk

    Robert (-; I like it ;-) A grand/great, GREAT distinction must be made to understand the substance and essence of the quote's true topic. There is less than minuscule to nothing similar between the laws of nature and of nature's God related liberty - sought by some in the founding principles and documents of the States united (America) and, administrations of demonically inspired carnal despots in control of the purse and gun. -thereisawayJose from Hi's example to the current occupying statist theocracy infesting this land are examples of my here later comparison.

    Sarah, New Rochelle, NY

    Such an incredibly prescient quote - forseeing today's absurd 'hate speech' bans and the intense pressure on social media. Speech is not violence. Censorship is not freedom from fear.

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