Only the suppressed word is dangerous.

Only the suppressed word is dangerous.

He is always the severest censor of the merit of others who has the least worth of his own.

He is always the severest censor of the merit of others who has the least worth of his own.

The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society read more

The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion.

Every burned book enlightens the world.

Every burned book enlightens the world.

Damn all expurgated books; the dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book.

Damn all expurgated books; the dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book.

Censorship in any form is the enemy of creativity, since it cuts off the life blood of creativity: ideas.

Censorship in any form is the enemy of creativity, since it cuts off the life blood of creativity: ideas.

If there had been a censorship of the press in Rome we should have had today neither Horace nor Juvenal, read more

If there had been a censorship of the press in Rome we should have had today neither Horace nor Juvenal, nor the philosophical writings of Cicero.

Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime.

Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime.

If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we read more

If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all—except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty.