IX.

No man has a right to disturb the public peace by personally resisting the execution of a law, however bad. He ought to acquiesce, using at the same time the utmost powers of his reason to promote its repeal.

A man must have a right to act in a certain manner, before it can be his duty. He may, before he ought.

A man has a right to think as his reason directs; it is a duty he owes to himself to think with freedom, that he may act from conviction.

A man has a right to unrestricted liberty of discussion. Falsehood is a scorpion that will sting itself to death.

A man has not only a right to express his thoughts, but it is his duty to do so.

No law has a right to discourage the practice of truth. A man ought to speak the truth on every occasion. A duty can never be criminal; what is not criminal cannot be injurious.