“Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their customs, privileges, or beliefs. This state of mind is not common, but it is essential for right thinking; where it is absent, discussion is apt to become worse than useless.”

The state of the common sense mind vanished with the Republic.

Tolstoy was a huge supporter of the radical economist HENRY GEORGE. See www.progressandpoverty.org for some real free thinking.

I agree, but that doesn't automatically mean that I agree with the ideas and opinions of a free thinker. Thinking is fine -- it is the resulting actions that are to be checked. All oppressive policies started out as 'new' ideas.