"We have an open society. No one will come and take me away for saying what I am saying. But they don't have to, if they can control how many people hear it. And that's how they do it"

In this quote, Jackson Browne is highlighting the principle of an open society, where people are totally free to reveal their ideas and opinions without worry of being silenced or penalized. However, he likewise acknowledges that this freedom of speech can be limited by those in power who have the ability to control the dissemination of information. Browne suggests that rather of physically silencing individuals, those in power can simply limit the number of individuals who have access to their message, effectively silencing them in a more subtle way. This quote functions as a suggestion to be aware of how information is controlled and to actively seek out diverse perspectives in order to keep a truly open society.