Roger Williams on Conflict and Debate

Tue 30 Dec 2025

Published 7 years ago.

Updated 2 months ago.

Roger Williams on Conflict and Debate

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Tue 30 Dec 2025

2 min read

There are many Roger Williams quotes that exemplify freedom of speech and freedom of conscience. The following is my favorite quote on differing opinions. This quote is from the introduction to a paper he submitted in a town meeting that occured on 31 Jun 1648.

…all men are apt & prone to differ it is no New Thing in all former Ages in all parts of this World…either part or partie is most right in his owne eyes…–Roger Williams, 1648

The above is documented in “The Early Records of the Town of Providence, Volume 15”, published 1899.

Full Text

Here is the full text of the submitted paper. (Recto is the front of a page, or the right side of a book. Verso is the back of a page, or the left side of a book.)

— map / TST —

Michael Alan Prestwood
Author & Natural Philosopher

Prestwood writes on science-first philosophy, with particular attention to the convergence of disciplines. Drawing on his TST Framework, his work emphasizes rational inquiry grounded in empirical observation while engaging questions at the edges of established knowledge. With TouchstoneTruth positioned as a living touchstone, this work aims to contribute reliable, evolving analysis in an emerging AI era where the credibility of information is increasingly contested.