“Without freedom of speech, we wouldn’t know who the idiots are”

“Without freedom of speech, we would never know who the idiots are” is a saying that has been printed on many images. Authorship is uncertain.
   
“If we don’t protect freedom of speech, we will never know who the idiots are” was posted on Twitter by Ahh! Photography on August 15, 2009. “‘Let everybody speak their minds so that we can know who the idiots are’ This is a priceless quote. I salute freedom of speech” was posted on Twitter by RuiCapz on September 14, 2011. “Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing. It shows you who the idiots are” was posted on Twitter by emily on December 12, 2011.
   
“Without freedom of speech, we wouldn’t know who the idiots are… #keeptalking #stopmakingsense” was posted on Twitter by Jeff Burrows on February 19, 2015. “Without freedom of speech we wouldn’t know who the idiots are” was posted on Twitter by David Roberts on April 10, 2015. “Without freedom of speech we would never know who the idiots are” (also shown on an image) was posted on Facebook by Sharmon Vargo on December 15, 2015. “WITHOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH WE WOULD NOT KNOW WHO THE IDIOTS ARE” was posted on Facebook by Vince the Sign Guy on June 21, 2021.
 
     
Twitter
Ahh! Photography
@AhhPhotography
If we don’t protect freedom of speech, we will never know who the idiots are.
1:29 PM · Aug 15, 2009·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
RuiCapz
@RuiCapz
“Let everybody speak their minds so that we can know who the idiots are” This is a priceless quote. I salute freedom of speech
4:59 AM · Sep 14, 2011·Twitter for BlackBerry®
   
Twitter
emily
@Emmuffins
Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing. It shows you who the idiots are.
7:57 AM · Dec 12, 2011·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Race Radio
@TheRaceRadio
Freedom of speech is important, because then we know who the idiots are http://velonews.competitor.com/?p=204934 interview with Pat McQuaid
7:12 PM · Jan 31, 2012·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Dikran Salbashian
@salbashian
If we don’t protect freedom of speech, we will never know who the idiots are!
2:04 PM · Feb 9, 2012·Twuffer
   
Twitter
Skepticlese
@Skepticlese
The great thing about freedom of speech is that when everyone speaks, you can quickly determine who the idiots are.
12:37 PM · Mar 5, 2012·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Ed Tillett
@ed_tillett
I support the freedom of speech for many reasons, but most importantly… how else are we going to know who the idiots are???
4:03 PM · Aug 21, 2012·Twitter for Android
   
Twitter
Tim Burgess
@Tim_Burgess
Freedom of speech is important, not least so you can work out quickly who the idiots are. #foxnews
7:02 PM · Jan 11, 2015·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Jeff Burrows
@Burrowsdrums
Without freedom of speech, we wouldn’t know who the idiots are… #keeptalking #stopmakingsense
3:29 PM · Feb 19, 2015·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
David Roberts
@davelondoncab
Replying to @TheUFOPilot
@GodlessUtopia @DrunkenMoses Without freedom of speech we wouldn’t know who the idiots are.
11:37 PM · Apr 10, 2015·Twitter for iPad
         
Facebook
Sharmon Vargo
December 15, 2015 at 10:38 AM ·
Without freedom of speech we would never know who the idiots are.
(This saying is also shown on an image.—ed.)
 
Reddit—TheNewGeezers
Posted by u/RonB5 September 27, 2016
RonB comes out YET AGAIN - defends Citizens United
With a nod to Schmutzie for pointing me to the Kinsley article [ETA: and a nod to JackD for the criticisms], here are my notes for my lecture tomorrow evening.
 
I’m addicted to arguing about politics and science and sometimes even about religion with people on the Internet.
 
I used to call it “arguing with the idiots on the Internet,” until a colleague pointed out to me that that is redundant.
 
But without freedom of speech, we wouldn’t know who the idiots are, or, put another way, freedom of speech is making stupidity famous.
 
Twitter
Donkey Adams
@DonkeyAdams
Replying to @DigitalBooby and @Arsenal1206
without freedom of speech we would never know who the idiots are.
6:14 AM · Mar 11, 2017·Twitter for Android
   
Twitter
Manish Vyas
@whathehelll
Replying to @RanaAyyub
Without freedom of speech we would never know who the idiots are. @RanaAyyub @BDUTT and their cronies are a classic example.
12:24 AM · Jul 25, 2017·Twitter for iPhone
     
Twitter
JAMES ENTERPRISES.
@Jibril_Mai_
Without freedom of speech we would never know WHO the idiots are.
8:05 PM · Sep 5, 2017·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Bellatrix•MAGA•
@GodsGirl4Evah
Without freedom of speech, we would never know who the idiots are. #truth #word
Camera with flashcred: Flashgirl Imagery©2016
12:16 AM · Sep 12, 2017·Twitter for iPad
 
Twitter
Tim Burgess
@Tim_Burgess
Freedom of speech is important, not least so you can work out pretty quickly who the idiots are
9:59 AM · Jul 24, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
       
Twitter
Piyush Sharma
@PiyushS03211889
Without freedom of speech, we would never know who the idiots are…
                ~Someone wise..
11:17 AM · Jun 16, 2021·Twitter for Android
 
Facebook
Vince the Sign Guy
June 21, 2021 at 10:22 PM ·
https://store.vincethesignguy.com
#vincethesignguy #funny #Puns #Humor #dadjokes #indianhills
(The following text is shown on a sign.—ed.)
WITHOUT FREEDOM
OF SPEECH
WE WOULD NOT
KNOW WHO THE
IDIOTS ARE
 
Twitter
Jaydip Parikh
@JaydipParikh
Without freedom of speech, we would never know who the idiots are!
11:56 PM · Jul 1, 2021·Twitter for iPad
 
Twitter
MimiLisa
@69MimiLisa
Without freedom of speech we wouldn’t know who the idiots are.
6:13 PM · Jul 2, 2021·Twitter for iPhone