Famous quote by Penn Jillette

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The First Amendment says nothing about your getting paid for saying anything. It just says you can say it.
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"The First Amendment says nothing about your getting paid for saying anything. It just says you can say it. I don't believe that if a corporation pulls all the money out of you or a network pulls their money away or you get fired, you're being censored"

- Penn Jillette

About this Quote

Penn Jillette's quote touches on a fundamental aspect of the First Modification of the United States Constitution, which guarantees the right to totally free speech. However, Jillette makes a distinction in between the legal defenses of totally free speech and the financial or expert consequences that may follow what one picks to state.

The core of his argument is that the First Amendment guarantees that people can reveal their thoughts and opinions without federal government interference or legal repercussions. This is a security against censorship by the state, guaranteeing that public discourse stays open and vibrant. However, Jillette points out that this protection does not reach ensuring that individuals are economically compensated for their speech or that they are secured from the effects of their speech in contexts besides government action.

His statement highlights a practical view of free speech in a capitalist society where corporations, networks, and companies have their interests and values, which may not line up with the speech of people they utilize or back. If an individual's speech is viewed to contravene these interests, corporations may select to withdraw financial support or terminate employment. Jillette argues that these actions do not make up censorship in the legal sense; rather, they represent the choices of entities within a free market system.

The quote might also indicate that true totally free speech runs within social and economic realities. While people can reveal themselves easily under the First Amendment, they are not shielded from the economic and social implications of their expressions. Jillette seems to promote for a reasonable understanding of complimentary speech, acknowledging that it includes browsing the complexities of societal and corporate landscapes, where financial backing and platform access are not ensured rights.

In summary, Jillette is highlighting the distinction in between legal defenses guaranteed by the First Amendment and the personal and expert repercussions that may emerge as an outcome of working out complimentary speech.

About the Author

USA Flag This quote is written / told by Penn Jillette somewhere between March 5, 1955 and today. He/she was a famous Entertainer from USA. The author also have 20 other quotes.

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