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Quote by Trevor Noah

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Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood

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Author

Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah is a South African-born comedian, writer, and television host. He is known for his unique sense of humor and insightful commentary on social issues. Born on February 20, 1984, Noah grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. He began his career performing in comedy clubs in Johannesburg and has since gained recognition in the television and radio industry. more

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“[No] social principle in the world is more foolish and dangerous than the rapidly rising notion that hurtful words and ideas are a form of violence or torture (e.g., “harassment”) and that their perpetrators should be treated accordingly. That notion leads to the criminalization of criticism and the empowerment of authorities to regulate it. The new sensitivity is the old authoritarianism in disguise, and it is just as noxious.”

“Lost in the incessant focus on the darker sides of free speech—real, perceived, and exaggerated—are the profound benefits of free and open discourse, from the toppling of absolutist rulers to the cross-fertilization of knowledge across cultures and the defeat of institutional racism and discrimination. As thinkers like Spinoza, Cato, Madison, Constant, and Douglass have pointed out, we jeopardize those benefits if we are unwilling to accept any of the harms or costs that inevitably accompany free expression.”