"We must understand the difference between fear societies and free societies, between dictators and democrats. We must understand the link between democracy and peace and between human rights and security. Above all, we must bring back moral clarity so that we may draw on the power of free individuals, free nations, and the free world for the enormous challenges ahead."

Natan Sharansky’s “Preface” in Natan Sharansky with Ron Dermer The Case for Democracy

"Let’s just say the alarm-bell ringers have a very good track record of being right, and those who dismiss them have a very good track record of being wrong."

John Thompson of the Mackenzie Institute (re warnings about Naziism, Communism etc.), quoted by Donna Jacobs in Ottawa Citizen Dec. 17 2001

"The important borders during the Cold War were seen as those that separated capitalists from communists, Americans from Soviets, East from West. But not to dissidents. Of course, more than anyone else, we were painfully aware of these fault lines because we often paid the price for crossing them… Still, while the fault lines framed the larger geopolitical and ideological contours of the superpower face-off, they failed to capture what for many of us was an even more important threshold – a border that did not separate the world as it was, but rather as it might be. On one side stood those who were prepared to confront evil. On the other stood those who were prepared to appease it."

Natan Sharansky with Ron Dermer, The Case for Democracy

“Think before you think.”

Stanislaw Jerzy Lec, quoted on www.memorablequotations.com

"an open mind is salutary, but one whose hinge is off?"

"H. Smith" [according to my detailed but now sadly incomprehensible note as to its origin]

"Truth unasserted is a lie unopposed."

George Jonas in the National Post Dec. 11, 2010
 

“Apparently a past to your liking has become an entitlement.”

Thomas Sowell Is Reality Optional?

"the following are the possible ways for the listener to react to the communication: 1. he may accept the speaker and accept his statement; 2. he may accept the speaker but reject his statement; 3. he may reject the speaker but accept his statement; 4. he may reject the speaker and reject his statement. A person with what [Michigan State U.’s Milton] Rokeach calls a ‘closed mind’ is able to have only reactions (1) and (4)…

S.I. Hayakawa Language in Thought and Action