When speech condemns a free press...

[pbmus]

Link to tweet

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Unfortunately, this is a fake quote, like most "Jefferson quotes" you see on the internet.

When the speech condemns a free press...(Spurious Quotation)

Quotation: "When the speech condemns a free press, you are hearing the words of a tyrant."

Variations: “Speech that condemns a free press are the words of a tyrant” [sic].

Sources consulted:

Founders Online

Thomas Jefferson Retirement papers

Earliest known appearance in print: N/A

Comments: This quotation has not been found in the writings of Thomas Jefferson. Its earliest known appearance to date is a meme generated in late February 2017.(1) It apparently spread from there to Twitter, with a few usages in March and then a flurry of appearances in late June and July 2017. Its ultimate origin is unknown.(2)

FURTHER SOURCES

Thomas Jefferson Foundation. Quotes and Family Letters Database. Search for Jefferson quotes by keyword or topic; quotes are vetted by Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series editors.

(1). Imgflip, "Thomas Jefferson Tyrant Quote."
(2). The earliest located appearance on Twitter is March 7, 2017.

{bad link to Twitter account}

[LanternWaste]

2. Is your descriptor 'most' fake as well?

Or do you have objective numbers to support it?

(it's a personal failure to hold oneself to lower standard than we hold others to; but a failure that can be corrected)

[libdem4life]

3. Protect? The only thing he protects is his money.

He is willfully and fraudulently framing the press...that's what happens with illegitimate presidents. They hire illegitimate people to do illegitimate things. Tyrant is too good of a word for this situation.