“Silence is the severest criticism.”

“To silence criticism is to silence freedom.”

“Criticism does not disturb me, for I am my own severest critic. Always in my playing I strive to surpass myself, and it is this constant struggle that makes music fascinating to me.”

“The passive idler of all men in the world is the most difficult to please. Those who do the least themselves are always the severest critics upon the noble achievements of others.”

“The answer to injustice is not to silence the critic, but to end the injustice.”

“The critical point is that the Constitution places the right of silence beyond the reach of government.”

“Thought that is silenced is always rebellious. Majorities, of course, are often mistaken. This is why the silencing of minorities is necessarily dangerous. Criticism and dissent are the indispensable antidote to major delusions.”

“What hurts is not the criticism of our enemies, but rather it is the silence of our friends that truly hurts.”

“If government, or those in positions of power and authority, can silence criticism by the argument that such criticism might be misunderstood somewhere, there is an end to all criticism, and perhaps an end to our kind of political system. For men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive.”

“The worst criticism seeks to have the last word and leave the rest of us in silence; the best opens up an exchange that need never end.”