The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously.

The remark draws a sharp line between procedural rights and substantive merit. In a democracy, people may have (or claim) a right to speak and to be heard—through elections, petitions, protest, or public debate—but that entitlement does not compel others to grant their views credibility, deference, or equal weight. Humphrey’s formulation underscores that free expression is compatible with rigorous criticism: listening is a civic duty, but agreement and respect must be earned through evidence, reasoning, and ethical seriousness. The quote is often invoked to defend open debate while resisting the idea that all opinions deserve the same standing simply because they are voiced.