“Persecution always says, 'I know the consequences of your opinion better than you know them yourselves.' But the language of toleration was always amicable, liberal, and just: it confessed its doubts, and acknowledged its ignorance ... Persecution had always reasoned from cause to effect, from opinion to action, [that such an opinion would invariably lead to but one action], which proved generally erroneous; while toleration led us invariably to form just conclusions, by judging from actions and not from opinions.” KnowsActionFormLanguageCausesOpinionDoubtEffectsIgnoranceJudgingConsequenceConclusionPersecutionBetter Than YouToleration Author:Charles James Fox
“No human government has a right to enquire into private opinions, to presume that it knows them, or to act on that presumption. Men are the best judges of the consequences of their own opinions, and how far they are likely to influence their actions; and it is most unnatural and tyrannical to say, "as you think, so must you act. I will collect the evidence of your future conduct from what I know to be your opinions."” ThinkingKnowsMenHumansGovernmentActionOpinionInfluenceJudgingEvidenceConsequenceOur FutureYour FutureUnnaturalPresumption Book:The Speeches ... in the House of Commons Source: The Speeches ... in the House of Commons
