People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid.

The line draws a sharp distinction between outward liberty (the right to say anything) and inward liberty (the discipline and courage to think for oneself). Kierkegaard’s point is that public insistence on “free speech” can become a substitute for genuine intellectual and spiritual responsibility: it is easier to talk, repeat slogans, or join a chorus than to undertake the solitary work of reflection, self-examination, and choosing one’s convictions. In that sense, the quote is less a legal argument about censorship than a moral-psychological critique of conformity—warning that a society may celebrate expressive freedom while individuals evade the harder freedom of independent thought.

1) “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.”
2) “People ask for freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought they avoid.”