The nightmare of censorship has always cast a shadow over…
“The nightmare of censorship has always cast a shadow over my thoughts. Both under the previous state and under the Islamic state, I have said again and again that, when there is an apparatus for censorship that filters all writing, an apparatus comes into being in every writer's mind that says: "Don't write this, they won't allow it to be published." But the true writer must ignore these murmurings. The true writer must write. In the end, it will be published one day, on the condition that the writer writes the truth and does not dissemble.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author argues that censorship creates self‑censorship in writers, but true writers must ignore that inner voice and write truthfully, trusting eventual publication.
In simple terms: Writers must defy censorship and write truth.
Truthful writing persists despite external suppression.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- journalism under authoritarian regimes
- academic publishing
- social media activism
Key Concepts
Practical Applications
- Practice blind drafting
- Seek alternative publishing platforms
Questions to Reflect On
- What risks do writers face when confronting censorship?
- How can societies protect truthful expression?
Even truthful writing can be weaponized; context matters for impact.