Freedom had been hunted round the globe; reason was considered as rebellion; and the slavery of fear had made men afraid to think.  But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing."

                                                                                                                                 -  Thomas Paine  (1737-1809) 

It is one thing to wish to have a truth on our side, and another thing to wish sincerely to be on the side of truth.

                                                                                                                                 -  Richard Whatley (1787-1863)

Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions; for opinions in good men is but knowledge in the making.

                                                                                                                                         -  John Milton (1608-1674)

American campuses have more insistently proclaimed their commitment to diversity as they have become more intellectually monochrome. They do indeed cultivate diversity — in race, skin color, ethnicity, sexual preference. In everything but thought.  

                                                                                                                                                -  George Will (b. 1941)

Unless we can make the philosophic foundations of a free society once more a living intellectual issue … the prospects of freedom are indeed dark.

                                                                                                                                          -  F. A. Hayek (1899–1992)