“When people talk of the freedom of writing, speaking, or thinking, I cannot choose but laugh. No such thing ever existed. No such thing now exists; but I hope it will exist. But it must be hundreds of years after you and I shall write and speak no more.”

VERY insightful. Freedom is an ideal we are still endeavoring to reach.

The first freedom of speech is the freedom from speech, in other words, you don't have to say anything.

Very pessimistic, and yet... it does seem that he speaks of a goal that we have yet to reach today...

It sounds like what a free man could say today, contemprary to the prejudicial universities' book burnings.

Define freedom of expression. Does it mean the freedom to express anything at all? I hope not.

Considering the history of the federalist party, it does seem the siege came full circle with centralized power in 2021. The opposition Jefferson and Madison mounted to nullify such an overreach of centralized power fell very short after 1913. Yet today some states are considering and pondering the Resolutions in the face of such tyranny on display under the current Biden administration !! Corruption is on full display, is it not ?