"[Morality and ethics as well as freedom of thought, speech, expression and press versus censorship and propaganda:] Tolerance is, however, not only the centrepiece but the paradox of liberalism. For liberalism enjoins tolerance of opposing viewpoints, and allows them to have their say, leaving it to the democracy of ideas to decide which shall prevail. The result is too often the death of toleration itself, because those who live by hard principles and uncompromising views in political, moral and religious respects always, if given half a chance, silence liberals because liberalism, by its nature, threatens the hegemony [lack of diversity from free choice] they wish to impose. To the question, 'Should the tolerant tolerate the intolerant?' the answer should therefore be a resounding 'No.' Tolerance has to protect itself. It can easily do so by saying that anyone can put a point of view, but no one can force another to accept it. The only coercion should be that of argument, the only obligation should be to honest reasoning [- so no force or fraud]. Helen Keller said that 'the highest result of education is tolerance', and she was right"

Author: A. C. Grayling

Notes: (1949 - ), Anthony Clifford Grayling, British philosopher. Quoted in his book, The Meaning of Things - Applying Philosophy to Life.