And I honor the man who is willing to sink Half his present repute…

And I honor the man who is willing to sink Half his present repute for the freedom to think, And, when he has thought, be his cause strong or weak, Will risk t' other half for the freedom to speak.

James Russell Lowell

A Fable of Critics · 1848

★ 1.8

Other tags relating to this quote

Topic

Taking risks Freedom of thought Freedom of speech and expression

Medium

Poem

Time

1848

Person

James Russell Lowell

Provenance

Citation

Lowell, James Russell [published anonymously]. A Fable for Critics: A Glance at a Few of Our Literary Progenies. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1848.

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And I honor the man who is willing to sink Half his present repute for the freedom to… — James Russell Lowell

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