We can never intimidate and discourage the people who voice their

“We can never intimidate and discourage the people who voice their words with courage. The essence of freedom rests precisely here — in the freedom of expression of the people. And we must protect it.” — Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj

In these stirring words, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, former President of Mongolia and a leader of its peaceful democratic revolution, speaks the timeless language of liberty. He reminds us that freedom of expression is not merely a privilege of the fortunate — it is the heartbeat of every free society. His statement was born from struggle: from the cold streets of Ulaanbaatar where, in the final years of the twentieth century, a nation long silenced by authoritarian rule found its voice again. Elbegdorj himself stood among the people, a young journalist and reformer, speaking truth to power. He knew firsthand that to speak with courage is to place one’s life upon the altar of principle.

Freedom, he tells us, is not secured by armies nor wealth, but by words — by the unbroken right of the human spirit to speak its truth. The tyrant fears speech more than the sword, for a word can ignite the sleeping hearts of millions. To intimidate and discourage those who speak is to strike at the root of liberty itself. For once the voice of the people is silenced, freedom ceases to exist in anything but name. The right to speak one’s mind is not a decoration of democracy; it is its foundation, its breath, its soul.

History is filled with those who understood this truth and paid dearly for it. Consider Socrates, who stood before his judges in Athens and refused to recant his questions and ideas. They offered him life if he would silence himself — but he chose death, for he knew that to live without freedom of expression is not to live at all. His courage became the seed of philosophy itself, and his final words still echo: that the voice of conscience cannot be stifled without poisoning the soul of society. So too, Elbegdorj’s words remind us that to silence one is to weaken all, for the measure of a nation’s strength is found not in how it rewards conformity, but in how it protects dissent.

And yet, in every age, there are those who would crush the voice of the brave. They do not always wear crowns or uniforms — sometimes they hide behind laws, or cloaks of politeness, or tides of public opinion. They tell the bold to stay quiet “for safety,” “for order,” or “for harmony.” But as Elbegdorj declares, the essence of freedom lies precisely in the noise of the people — in the rough, imperfect, passionate exchange of truth. Silence may feel safe, but it is the stillness of a grave. The living must speak.

To protect freedom of expression is not the task of governments alone, but of every soul who values light over darkness. It means standing up for those with whom we disagree, as well as those we admire. It means refusing to let fear dictate the boundaries of conversation. When we defend the right of others to speak — even those whose words challenge or discomfort us — we defend our own humanity. For liberty, once denied to one, is soon denied to all.

Let us then, as the ancients would say, guard the flame of speech as a sacred fire. Encourage those who speak with courage, for they keep alive the spirit of progress. Teach your children that to question is not rebellion, but wisdom in bloom. And when you see injustice, speak — even if your voice trembles. For the echo of one honest word may travel farther than the roar of a thousand lies.

So remember, O inheritors of freedom: speech is not noise — it is the pulse of a living people. To intimidate it is to strangle truth; to protect it is to preserve civilization. Let your words be brave, let your heart be steadfast, and let your defense of expression never waver. For as long as men and women dare to speak their truth without fear, the dawn of liberty will never fade.