„Ani ta nejpřísnější ochrana svobody slova by neměla chránit muže, který začne nepravdivě volat ‘hoří’ v divadle a způsobí tím paniku.“

Originál: (en) The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic. ... The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent. It is a question of proximity and degree.