"Free speech is not to be regulated like diseased cattle and impure butter. The audience that hissed yesterday may applaud today, even for the same performance"

In this thought-provoking quote, William O. Douglas, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, articulates a robust defense of free speech-- a cornerstone of democratic society. The example of unhealthy cattle and impure butter connotes that specific products or problems demand policy to ensure public health and security. These are aspects subject to control since they pose potential damage to society. The addition of these examples highlights the absurdity of subjecting free speech, which is basically an expression of specific thought and ideas, to a similar degree of policy. Douglas suggests that speech, unlike tangible products that can ruin or spread out illness, need to stay a fluid and vibrant human right.

Douglas's recommendation to the altering actions of audiences further enhances the need of securing free speech from overbearing policy. The fluidity in public opinion-- where the same efficiency could be hissed one day and applauded the next-- demonstrates the evolving nature of societal worths, beliefs, and interpretations. Free speech encapsulates the capability to challenge, reevaluate, and potentially reformulate these beliefs without fear of censure or penalty. The variability in audience reaction is a testimony to democratic engagement, making it possible for society to adjust and advance.

Implicit in Douglas's quote is the understanding that totally free speech is an evolutionary system for societal development. If speech were overly restricted, society would miss out on hearing unpopular, yet possibly transformative ideas that today are mocked however tomorrow welcomed. By declining stringent regulation, Douglas protects a marketplace of ideas where discourse, even contentious or disagreeable, need to be enabled to flourish as an important element of democracy. Therefore, his statement highlights the belief that while not all speech will be agreeable or tasty at all times, it is exactly this variety and liberty of expression that fortifies a vibrant and resilient society.