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Well, the man who first translated the bible into English…

“Well, the man who first translated the bible into English was burned at the stake, and they've been at it ever since. Must be all that adultery, murder and incest. But not to worry. It's back on the shelves.” quote by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
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““Well, the man who first translated the bible into English was burned at the stake, and they've been at it ever since. Must be all that adultery, murder and incest. But not to worry. It's back on the shelves.””

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Satirically links historical censorship of translation with modern book bans, implying a cyclical pattern of moral panic over literature.

In simple terms: Historical censorship repeats today.

Key Takeaway

Moral panics recur.

Themes

censorship history religion freedom of speech

Mood

ironic critical

Type

satire commentary

When to use this quote

  • library selection debates
  • school curriculum reviews

Key Concepts

book banning translation social control

Practical Applications

  • advocacy for open access
  • literary criticism

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do societies repeatedly target the same works?
  • How does satire expose hypocrisy?
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