Explore a collection of the most beloved and motivational quotes and sayings about Dissent. Share these powerful messages with your loved ones on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or on your personal blog, and inspire the world with their wisdom. We've compiled the Top 100 Dissent Quotes and Sayings from 91 influential authors, including John Kenneth Galbraith,Peter Thiel,Thomas Jefferson,Dalai Lama,Lewis H. Lapham, for you to enjoy and share.

Decision has greater virtue and force if taken after there has been eloquent dissent. By John Kenneth Galbraith Decision Dissent Greater Virtue Force

The most contrarian thing of all is not to oppose the crowd but to think for yourself. By Peter Thiel Contrarian Thing Oppose Crowd

The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to. By Thomas Jefferson Expressed Force Public Opinion Resisted

Disagreement is something normal. By Dalai Lama Disagreement Normal

Dissent is what rescues democracy from a quiet death behind closed doors. By Lewis H. Lapham Dissent Doors Rescues Democracy Quiet

Thus the essence of freedom of opinion is not in mere toleration as such, but in the debate which toleration provides: it is not in the venting of opinion, but in the confrontation of opinion. By Walter Lippmann Opinion Toleration Essence Freedom Mere

We must continually remind students in the classroom that expression of different opinions and dissenting ideas affirms the intellectual process. We should forcefully explain that our role is not to teach them to think as we do but rather to teach them, by example, the importance of taking a stance that is rooted in rigorous engagement with the full range of ideas about a topic. By Bell Hooks Process Ideas Teach Continually Remind

I am in revolt against the age-old lie that the majority is always right. By Henrik Ibsen Revolt Ageold Lie Majority

This is the way dissent is handled in feminist realms: a contrary opinion or argument is actually an attack. This stems from the belief that your truth is the only truth, that your sense of trauma and oppression does not need to be examined or questioned. In By Jessa Crispin Realms Attack Dissent Handled Feminist

In America, religious dissent is as vital as it is elusive. Like the secretions of the pituitary, the juices of dissent are essential to ongoing life even if we do not always know precisely how, when or where they perform their tasks, and the not knowing - the flimsy, filmy elusiveness - is supremely characteristic of America's expressions of religious dissent. For in the United States no stalwart orthodoxy stands ever ready to parry the sharp thrust or clever feints of dissent. By Edwin Gaustad Dissent America Religious Elusive Vital

Some of the most valuable stuff I do has to do with my dissenting from the general opinion about people in movements. By Harvey Pekar Movements Valuable Stuff Dissenting General

The first opinion the Court ever filed has a dissenting opinion. Dissent is a tradition of this Court ... When someone is writing for the Court, he hopes to get eight others to agree with him, so many of the majority opinions are rather stultified. By William O. Douglas Court Filed Dissenting Opinion Dissent

If there are any persons who contest a received opinion ... let us thank them for it, open our minds to listen to them, and rejoice that there is some one to do for us what we otherwise ought, if we have any regard for either the certainty or the vitality of our convictions, to do with much greater labor for ourselves. - John Stuart Mill, On Liberty By Friedrich Nietzsche Opinion Persons Contest Received John

If you want to live a meaningfully better life, you're going to have to make the dangerous choice to dissent. A life lived meaningfully isn't denominated by digital friends, designer logos, or wads of paper notes. It's denominated by what you've lived, what it's worth to you, and what that's worth to humanity. By Umair Haque Dissent Meaningfully Life Live Make

Illuminate the opposition. By Adam Weishaupt Illuminate Opposition

Opinion is called the queen of the world; it is so, for when reason opposes it, it is condemned to death. It must rise twenty times from its ashes to gradually drive away the usurper. By Voltaire Opinion World Death Called Queen

So now is the time, more than ever, for those who truly value all the principles of democracy, especially including dissent, to be the most forceful in speaking up, standing up and speaking out. By Jim Hightower Speaking Time Democracy Dissent Standing

Freedom is always the freedom of dissenters. By Rosa Luxemburg Dissenters Freedom

Did not hesitate to be disagreeable to preserve my independence - applied By Sarah Vowell Applied Independence Hesitate Disagreeable Preserve

To venture an opinion is like moving a piece at chess: it may be taken, but it forms the beginning of a game that is won. By Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe Chess Won Venture Opinion Moving

Democratic dissent is not disloyalty, it is a positive civic duty. By Shami Chakrabarti Democratic Disloyalty Duty Dissent Positive

I had hoped you would protest, but please don't argue. By Lotte Lehmann Protest Argue Hoped

When there are rational grounds for an opinion, people are content to set them forth and wait for them to operate. In such cases, people do not hold their opinions with passion; they hold them calmly, and set forth their reasons quietly. The opinions that are held with passion are always those for which no good ground exists; indeed the passion is the measure of the holder's lack of rational conviction. By Bertrand Russell People Operate Passion Set Content

Disagreement is a rare achievement, and most of what is called disagreement is simply confusion. By John Courtney Murray Disagreement Achievement Confusion Rare Called

To disagree one doesnt have to be disagreeable By Barry M. Goldwater Disagreeable Disagree Doesnt

The free expression of opinion, as experience has taught us, is the safety-valve of passion. The noise of the rushing steam, when it escapes, alarms the timid; but it is the sign that we are safe. The concession of reasonable privilege anticipates the growth of furious-appetite. By Herbert Gladstone, 1St Viscount Gladstone Opinion Passion Free Expression Experience

The critical voice is not your own. By Amelia Kinkade Critical Voice

Exercise the right to think for yourself By James Patterson Exercise

There is no democracy without dissent. By Phil Donahue Dissent Democracy

Silence is an arguement hard to refute By Anonymous Silence Refute Arguement Hard

Continue to express your dissent and your needs, but remember to remain civilized, for you will sorely miss civilization if it is sacrified in the turbulence of change. By Will Durant Continue Civilized Change Express Dissent

If one is seeking reasons for disloyalty, it is useful to find something one can resent. By John Christopher Disloyalty Resent Seeking Reasons Find

Fight for your opinions, but do not believe that they contain the whole truth, or the only truth. By Charles A. Dana Truth Fight Opinions

Between craft and credulity, the voice of reason is stifled. By Edmund Burke Credulity Stifled Craft Voice Reason

Every one has the right to refute any opinion. But no one has the right to prevent its expression. By Periyar E.v. Ramasamy Opinion Refute Expression Prevent

A great many of us must move from words to acts - from words of dissent to acts of disobedience. By Barbara Deming Words Acts Disobedience Great Move

No more fatuous chimera has ever infested the brain than that you can control opinions by law or direct belief by statute, and no more pernicious sentiment ever tormented the heart than the barbarous desire to do so. The field of inquiry should remain open, and the right of debate must be regarded as a sacred right. By William Borah Statute Fatuous Chimera Infested Brain

We often contradict an opinion for no other reason than that we do not like the tone in which it is expressed. By Friedrich Nietzsche Expressed Contradict Opinion Reason Tone

Dissent is the mark of freedom, as originality is the mark of independence of mind. ... No one can be a scientist ... if he does not have independence of observation and of thought. By Jacob Bronowski Mark Dissent Freedom Mind Originality

I raise this objection to debate the process, and protect the integrity of the true will of the people. By Stephanie Tubbs Jones Process People Raise Objection Debate

The right to agree with others is not a problem in any society; it is the right to disagree that is crucial. By Ayn Rand Society Crucial Agree Problem Disagree

I wish I could say that racism and prejudice were only distant memories. We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust ... We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better. By Thurgood Marshall Dissent Memories America Racism Prejudice

Minority viewpoints are important, not because they tend to prevail but because they stimulate divergent attention and thought, " finds Berkeley psychologist Charlan Nemeth, one of the world's leading experts on group decisions. "As a result, even when they are wrong they contribute to the detection of novel solutions and decisions that, on balance, are qualitatively better".Dissenting opinions are useful even when they're wrong. By Adam Grant Nemeth Berkeley Charlan Minority Important

Too often, complaint is not about principled objection on moral grounds, but opportunistic objection on grounds of self-interest. To rectify this, we need to work on mastering the art of complaint. By Julian Baggini Objection Grounds Selfinterest Complaint Principled

The unrestrained freedom of thinking and of openly making known one's thoughts is not inherent in the rights of citizens and is by no means worthy of favor and support. By Pope Gregory Xvi Support Unrestrained Freedom Thinking Openly

The right of dissent, or, if you prefer, the right to be wrong, is surely fundamental to the existence of a democratic society. That's the right that went first in every nation that stumbled down the trail toward totalitarianism. By Edward R. Murrow Dissent Prefer Wrong Society Surely

Many people who have an interest in politics feel they should proclaim - loudly, and at any given time - what their views are and why the "other side" is wrong. These proclamations appear in many forms, from scathing letters to the editor to frothing-at-the-mouth comments on blogs and internet videos. Although expression and debate are vital parts of policymaking, political speech should be used to push forward ideas that will help others. By Victoria Stoklasa Loudly Proclaim Time Side Wrong

I protest against any absolute conclusion. By George Eliot Conclusion Protest Absolute

There are occasions upon which a candid expression of opinion may be not only rude, but counterproductive. L By Elizabeth Peters Rude Counterproductive Occasions Candid Expression

I protest against deference to any man, whether John Stuart Mill, or Adam Smith, or Aristotle, being allowed to check inquiry. Our science has become far too much a stagnant one, in which opinions rather than experience and reason are appealed to. By William Stanley Jevons Mill Smith Aristotle John Stuart

I understand the principles of dissent in parliament. By Jeremy Corbyn Parliament Understand Principles Dissent

The prevailing attitude of the speakers was one of heavy disagreement with a number of things which the reader had not said. By Ronald Knox Prevailing Attitude Speakers Heavy Disagreement

I do not say this, that I think there should be no difference of opinions in conversation, nor opposition in men's discourses ... 'Tis not the owning one's dissent from another, that I speak against, but the manner of doing it. By John Locke Conversation Discourses Difference Opinions Opposition

Challenge authority; the authority of your own rational convictions. By Bryant Mcgill Challenge Convictions Authority Rational

Reading the [The Verso Book of Dissent] is like encountering the best version of our angry selves. By Jonathan Messinger Dissent Verso Book Reading Encountering

Writers should provoke disagreement. By V.s. Naipaul Writers Disagreement Provoke

It's a strange truth that no matter how persuaded we might be of our own correctness, the discomfiting realization that others disagree with us causes a paralyzing inability to argue the case convincingly. By Brittney Ryan Correctness Convincingly Strange Truth Matter

Humor is the ovum of dissent, By David Mitchell Humor Dissent Ovum

The freedom to entertain and express opinions, however offensive to others, has been regarded since Locke as the sine qua non of a free society. This By Roger Scruton Locke Opinions Society Freedom Entertain

What's the matter, you dissentious rogues,That rubbing the poor itch of your opinionMake yourselves scabs? By William Shakespeare Matter Scabs Dissentious Roguesthat Rubbing

We newspaper readers all have our pet vexations. Somewhere in one of those sections is the column we anxiously turn to for the sole purpose of disagreeing with the columnist. Volubly. By Barbara Kingsolver Vexations Newspaper Readers Pet Volubly

Opinions are not to be learned by rote, like the letters of an alphabet, or the words of a dictionary. They are conclusions to be formed, and formed by each individual in the sacred and free citadel of the mind, and there enshrined beyond the arm of law to reach, or force to shake; ay! and beyond the right of impertinent curiosity to violate, or presumptuous arrogance to threaten. By Frances Wright Opinions Rote Alphabet Dictionary Learned

Let us be those creative dissenters who will call our beloved nation to a higher destiny. To a new plateau of compassion, to a more noble expression of humanness. By Martin Luther King Jr. Destiny Creative Dissenters Call Beloved

There will be no more protest. No more dissension. No more violence. There will be only one voice. The voice of Ravinia. The voice of Halla. Your voice." "There goes freedom of speech." I saidAlexnder Naymeer and Bobby Pendragon, Raven Rise, Page 458 By D.j. Machale Voice Protest Page Ravinia Halla

Let your dissent fuel you, your anger inspire you, your rage convey you, and your fury strike a chilling fear onto the spines of your enemies. By Evan Meekins Enemies Dissent Fuel Anger Inspire

The revolt against freedom, which can be traced back so far, is associated with a revolt against reason that [gives] sentiment primacy to evaluate actions and experiences according to the subjective emotions with which they are associated. By Louis J. Halle Revolt Freedom Sentiment Traced Back

I claim the right to contradict myself. I don't want to deprive myself of the right to talk nonsense, and I ask humbly to be allowed to be wrong sometimes. By Federico Fellini Claim Contradict Nonsense Deprive Talk

In frank expression of conflicting opinion lies the greatest promise of wisdom in governmental action; and in suppression lies ordinarily the greatest peril. By Louis Brandeis Greatest Lies Action Peril Frank

The precipitancy of disputation, and the stir and noise of passions that usually attend it, must needs be prejudicial to verity. By Joseph Glanvill Disputation Verity Precipitancy Stir Noise

Many CEOs and leaders think that silence is indeed golden, that consensus is bliss. It is - sometimes. But more often what it signifies is that there are no respected processes for surfacing concerns and dissent. By Margaret Heffernan Golden Bliss Ceos Leaders Silence

I have lost the freedom of not having an opinion. By Umberto Eco Opinion Lost Freedom

May we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion. By Dwight D. Eisenhower Subversion Confuse Honest Dissent Disloyal

There must be engagement: there must be protest. By B.w. Powe Engagement Protest

Dissent is the native activity of the scientist, and it has got him into a good deal of trouble in the last years. But if that is cut off, what is left will not be a scientist. And I doubt whether it will be a man. By Jacob Bronowski Scientist Dissent Years Native Activity

If you dissent without breaking the law then you are legitimizing the system that allows this kind of latitude. You have to break the law to touch the state. By Philip Berrigan Latitude Law Dissent Breaking Legitimizing

How do you spell 'contravention'?" said Carrot, turning over a page."I don't," said Nobby, pushing through the crowds. By Terry Pratchett Carrot Nobby Spell Contravention Turning

Dissent, protest, presures of a wide variety that escape elite control can modify the calculus of costs of planners, and offer a slight hope that Washington can be compelled to permit at least some steps towards "justice, freedom and democracy" within its domains. By Noam Chomsky Dissent Protest Justice Washington Presures

When your voice contradicts reality and truth, the only way to create space for it is to discredit reality and truth. By John Yarmuth Truth Reality Voice Contradicts Create

It is rare that the public sentiment decides immorally or unwisely, and the individual who differs from it ought to distrust and examine well his own opinion. By Thomas Jefferson Unwisely Opinion Rare Public Sentiment

Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, and debate. By Hubert H. Humphrey Dissent Freedom Discussion Debate Hammered

We all have the opportunity to use our voices, to have our say, but so many of us are wasting it. By Austin Kleon Voices Opportunity Wasting

What Tully said of war may be applied to disputing: "It should be always so managed as to remember that the only true end of it is peace." But generally true disputants are like true sportsmen,their whole delight is in the pursuit; and the disputant no more cares for the truth than the sportsman for the hare. By Alexander Pope Tully True Disputing Peace War

Collective wisdom, alas, is no adequate substitute for the intelligence of individuals. Individuals who opposed received opinions have been the source of all progress, both moral and intellectual. They have been unpopular, as was natural. By Bertrand Russell Alas Collective Wisdom Individuals Adequate

Mill sets out several related arguments for protecting freedom of speech, not just from oppressive government intervention, but also from social pressures. Underlying them all are the assumptions that (a) truth is valuable, and (b) no matter how certain someone is that they know the truth, their judgement is still fallible: they might still be wrong. By Nigel Warburton Mill Speech Intervention Pressures Sets

We must preserve our right to think and differ. By Eleanor Roosevelt Differ Preserve

New prejudices will serve as well as old ones to harness the great unthinking masses.For this enlightenment, however, nothing is required but freedom, and indeed the most harmless among all the things to which this term can properly be applied. It is the freedom to make public use of one's reason at every point. But I hear on all sides, 'Do not argue!' The Officer says: 'Do not argue but drill!' The tax collector: 'Do not argue but pay!' The cleric: 'Do not argue but believe!' Only one prince in the world says, 'Argue as much as you will, and about what you will, but obey!' Everywhere there is restriction on freedom. By Immanuel Kant Argue Freedom Enlightenment Applied Prejudices

Contrary opinions are one thing, contrary facts are another. By Patrick Rothfuss Contrary Thing Opinions Facts

Protestations of impartiality I shall make none. Theyare always useless and are besides perfect nonsense, when used bya news-monger. By William Cobbett Protestations Impartiality Make Theyare Nonsense

...Opinion without a rational process. By Ayn Rand Opinion Process Rational

For in the absence of debate unrestricted utterance leads to the degradation of opinion. By a kind of Greshams law the more rational is overcome by the less rational, and the opinions that will prevail will be those which are held most ardently by those with the most passionate will. For that reason the freedom to speak can never be maintained merely by objecting to interference with the liberty of the press, of printing, of broadcasting, of the screen. It can be maintained only by promoting debate. By Walter Lippmann Absence Unrestricted Utterance Leads Degradation

I hope you weren't looking to me to be the voice of reason. I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret. By Leigh Bardugo Reason Hope Voice Regret Strict

We must insist that free oratory is only the beginning of free speech; it is not the end, but a means to an end. The end is to find the truth. The practical justification of civil liberties is not that self-expression is one of the rights of man. It is that the examination of opinion is one of the necessities of man. For experience tells us that it is only when freedom of opinion becomes the compulsion to debate that the seed which our fathers planted has produced its fruit. When that is understood, freedom will be cherished not because it is a vent for our opinions but because it is the surest method of correcting them. By Walter Lippmann Free End Speech Man Insist

Stand up and take your dissonance like a man. By Charles Ives Stand Man Dissonance

I am not fond of disputation; I have no alternative. By Mencius Disputation Alternative Fond

You'll often hear the left lecture about the importance of dissent in a free society. By David Harsanyi Society Hear Left Lecture Importance

Let your resistance, judgements, angers and fears inform you. By Bryant Mcgill Judgements Resistance Angers Fears Inform

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. By Thomas Jefferson Errors Opinion Tolerated Reason Left

Unlike top management at Enron, exemplary leaders reward dissent. They encourage it. They understand that, whatever momentary discomfort they experience as a result of being told they might be wrong, it is more than offset by the fact that the information will help them make better decisions. By Warren G. Bennis Enron Unlike Exemplary Dissent Top

The majority cannot reason; it has no judgement. It has always placed its destiny in the hands of others; it has followed its leaders even into destruction. The mass has always opposed, condemned, and hounded the innovator, the pioneer of a new truth. By Emma Goldman Reason Judgement Majority Destruction Condemned

Disobedience is my joy! By Princess Margaret Disobedience Joy