The trouble with censors is that they worry if a girl has cleavage. They ought to worry if she hasn't read more

The trouble with censors is that they worry if a girl has cleavage. They ought to worry if she hasn't any.

Censorship ends in logical completeness when nobody is allowed to read any books except the books that nobody reads.

Censorship ends in logical completeness when nobody is allowed to read any books except the books that nobody reads.

As long as I don't write about the government, religion, politics, and other institutions, I am free to print anything.

As long as I don't write about the government, religion, politics, and other institutions, I am free to print anything.

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 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.

Every burned book enlightens the world.

Every burned book enlightens the world.

I am mortified to be told that, in the United States of America, the sale of a book can become read more

I am mortified to be told that, in the United States of America, the sale of a book can become a subject of inquiry, and of criminal inquiry too.

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.

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.