Freedom of thought and expression is guaranteed to every individual in a free state
“The worst situation a state can be placed in is one in which it sends its honorable subjects into exile as if they were criminals, for no other reason than that they held opposing opinions that they could not hide. It is a grave misfortune for some individuals to be treated as enemies of the state and driven to death for no fault of their own and without a crime.” They committed it, but simply because they are proud of their personality, so that the guillotine from which the wicked tremble becomes a great stage on which wonderful roles of courage and endurance are performed, while the highest authority is only subjected to shame, because he who knows his innocence does not fear death as criminals fear it, and does not ask for it Forgiveness, and whoever is not tormented by remorse of conscience for a sin he committed, accepts death for a noble goal as an honor, not a punishment. He becomes truly great because he sacrificed his life for the sake of freedom. What example do these people give him with their death, the cause of which is not understood by fools and cowards, despised by seditionists, and glorified by the virtuous? All that those present take away from this painful scene is that they must either follow in the footsteps of those martyrs, or applaud their executioners.
However, if we want loyalty, not complacency and hypocrisy, to be what is worthy of appreciation, and for the supreme authority not to be weakened or subject to those calling for sedition, then every individual must be recognized for his freedom of opinion, and people should be governed so that they live in peace despite their differences and conflicts of opinion.”
Baruch Spinoza
From the book “A Treatise on Theology and Politics,” Chapter Twenty
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