Every man has a right to be heard; but no man has the right to strangle democracy with a single set of vocal cords." - Meaning and context.">
Speech in New York City (28 August 1952)
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The sound of tireless voices is the price we pay for the right to hear the music of our own opinions. But there is also, it seems to me, a moment at which democracy must prove its capacity to act. Every man has a right to be heard; but no man has the right to strangle democracy with a single set of vocal cords.

— Adlai Stevenson II

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "The sound of tireless voices is the price we pay for the right to hear the music of our own opinions. But there is also, it seems to me, a moment at which democracy must prove its capacity to act. Every man has a right to be heard; but no man has the right to strangle democracy with a single set of vocal cords." in the context of "Speech in New York City (28 August 1952)" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Adlai Stevenson II" (Quotes) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Adlai Stevenson II

About Adlai Stevenson II

Adlai Ewing Stevenson II (5 February 1900 – 14 July 1965) was an American politician and statesman, noted for his skill in debate and oratory; Governor of Illinois, he was twice an unsuccessful candidate for President of the United States running against Dwight D. Eisenhower (in 1952 and 1956). Under the John F. Kennedy administration, he served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.