Italian
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
The famous phrase, often attributed to Voltaire but in fact written in 1906 by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, has regained pressing relevance after recent episodes of violence linked to the American political debate.
The killing of a supporter of the so-called MAGA Doctrine — the conservative doctrine summed up by the slogan “Make America Great Again” and promoted by figures such as Charlie Kirk — has opened a wave of controversy that goes beyond crime reporting. On one side are those who rejoice, on the other those who denounce the danger of a climate of hatred that undermines the very foundations of democracy.
The reflection revolves around a crucial question: should freedom of expression be defended even when it conveys wrong or dangerous ideas? Or are there words that must be fought and stopped before they produce irreparable consequences?
The paradox of freedom lies precisely here. The liberal tradition, following Voltaire, maintains that thought must be opposed with other thought, not with censorship or violence. Yet the news shows that words steeped in hatred can turn into violent actions, especially when they find fertile ground in fragile or radicalized minds.
True dialectic is not based on insult or the elimination of the opponent, but on the confrontation of ideas. It means opposing convincing arguments to opposing arguments, allowing people to form their own judgment. Hatred, on the contrary, erases the very possibility of dialogue: it divides, excludes, and ultimately arms the hand of those who do not accept diversity of thought.
The lesson is clear: freedom of expression cannot be reduced to a slogan; it must be defended daily in its truest sense. It is not about dividing, nor about imposing one’s convictions by force. Speech remains the most powerful gift we have: through it we can defend ideas, persuade, and build consensus.
In an age marked by polarization and aggressive rhetoric, remembering Voltaire means reaffirming that no free society can survive if it turns the political opponent into an enemy to be hated.
