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Quote by Samuel R. Delany

Work

Trouble on Triton: An Ambiguous Heterotopia

This novel delves into the intricacies of a society on the moon Triton, examining its unique culture and political landscape. more

Author

Samuel R. Delany
Samuel R. Delany

Samuel R. Delany is an American author renowned for his science fiction and fantasy novels. His works are celebrated for their complex narrative structures, profound social commentary, and exploration of gender. Born on April 1, 1942, Delany's writing career spans several decades, and he has had a significant impact on contemporary literature. more

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“If we move away from the American tradition of lawyers defending those with whom they vehemently disagree -- as we temporarily did during the McCarthy period -- we weaken our commitment to the rule of law... So beware of an approach which limits advocacy to that which is approved by the standards of political correctness.”

“All speech should be presumed to be protected by the Constitution, and a heavy burden should be placed on those who would censor to demonstrate with relative certainty that the speech at issue, if not censored, would lead to irremediable and immediate serious harm.”

“In representing criminal defendants - especially guilty ones - it is often necessary to take the offensive against the government: to put the government on trial for its misconduct. In law, as in sports, the best defense is often a good offense. The courtroom oath - to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth - is applicable only to witnesses... because the American justice system is built on a foundation of not telling the whole entire truth.”

“I have no doubt that if an actual ticking bomb situation were to arise, our law enforcement authorities would torture. The real debate is whether such torture should take place outside of our legal system or within it. The answer to this seems clear: If we are to have torture, it should be authorized by the law.”

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