--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Book Bans Are Dumb (Sonnet 1587) Book…" description: "\"“Book Bans Are Dumb (Sonnet 1587) Book bans are dumb, It makes the mind numb. If banning books were justice, Middle ages would've been fun. I’ve got Me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/abhijit-naskar-99_bibliophile_book-bans-are-dumb-sonnet-1587-book-bans_18684.jpg" --- # Book Bans Are Dumb (Sonnet 1587) Book bans are dumb, It… ![“Book Bans Are Dumb (Sonnet 1587) Book bans are dumb, It makes the mind numb. If banning books were justice, Middle ages would've been fun. I’ve got Mein Kampf on my shelf, next to bible, quran and vedanta. You cannot fathom the wholeness of life, if you let expansion be dictated by law. Expansion…” quote by Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/abhijit-naskar-99_bibliophile_book-bans-are-dumb-sonnet-1587-book-bans_18684.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/abhijit-naskar-99_bibliophile_book-bans-are-dumb-sonnet-1587-book-bans_18684.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/abhijit-naskar-99_bibliophile_book-bans-are-dumb-sonnet-1587-book-bans_18684.jpg) > ““Book Bans Are Dumb (Sonnet 1587) Book bans are dumb, It makes the mind numb. If banning books were justice, Middle ages would've been fun. I’ve got Mein Kampf on my shelf, next to bible, quran and vedanta. You cannot fathom the wholeness of life, if you let expansion be dictated by law. Expansion can't be contained by law, concocted in the gutter of tribalism. Burning books doesn't prevent darkness, It only obstructs illumination. Book bans are dumb, it makes the world numb. Read reason, fiction, the lot - Stretch your mind beyond medieval vision.”” [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that censoring literature stifles intellectual growth and that true enlightenment comes from diverse, unrestricted reading. **In simple terms:** Censorship limits thought. Key Takeaway Freedom of reading fuels progress. Themes Freedom of expression Intellectual diversity Censorship consequences Historical oppression Cultural pluralism Mood Defiant Reflective Urgent Type Slogan Poetic Political When to use this quote - School curricula design - Public library policies - Personal reading habits - Legislative debates on content - Cultural festivals Key Concepts Censorship Intellectual freedom Historical context Religious texts Political ideology Practical Applications - Advocating open-access publishing - Designing inclusive educational curricula Questions to Reflect On - How does exposure to controversial ideas shape personal values? - What responsibilities do societies have in balancing free access with potential harm? A Different Perspective Some argue that certain extremist texts can incite violence, suggesting limited restriction may protect public safety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Banning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banning/) [Banning Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banning-books-228411/) [Bans Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bans-dumb-390197/) [Bibliophile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bibliophile/) [Book banning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-banning/) [Book Bans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-bans-390196/) [Book burning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-burning/) [Book-ban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-ban-22441/) [Book-lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-lovers/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Burning Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burning-books/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Mein kampf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mein-kampf/) [Middle ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-ages/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Pursuit of knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit-of-knowledge/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Banning books is just another form of bullying. It's all about fear and an assumption of power. The key is to address the fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/banning-books-is-just-another-form-of-bullying-it-s-all-about-fear/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [“There are lessons to be learned from history — but generally those lessons are only known to those who read books, not to those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-dunning/there-are-lessons-to-be-learned-from-history-but-generally-those/) [Brian Dunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-dunning/) > [“America cannot mend if its wounds are constantly covered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malika-j-stevely/america-cannot-mend-if-its-wounds-are-constantly-covered/) [Malika J. Stevely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malika-j-stevely/) > [“Truth is the greatest of all national possessions. A state, a people, a system, which suppresses the truth or fears to publish it, deserves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-eisner/truth-is-the-greatest-of-all-national-possessions-a-state-a-people-a/) [Kurt Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-eisner/) > [“Earthlog 3002-3003 In many of the monkey nations of earth their local governments often ban books, and yet not a single earth country has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/earthlog-3002-3003-in-many-of-the-monkey-nations-of-earth-their-local/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Ban bombs, not books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/ban-bombs-not-books/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Books can look dangerous or precious, depending on which side you're looking from, from office or from the streets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/books-can-look-dangerous-or-precious-depending-on-which-side-you-re/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Banning books gives us silence when we need speech. It closes our ears when we need to listen. It makes us blind when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/banning-books-gives-us-silence-when-we-need-speech-it-closes-our-ears/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [We have never advocated for the banning of books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-robinson/we-have-never-advocated-for-the-banning-of-books/) [Mark Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-robinson/) > [Ideas are only lethal if you suppress and don't discuss them. Ignorance is not bliss, it's stupid. Banning books shows you don't trust your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/ideas-are-only-lethal-if-you-suppress-and-don-t-discuss-them/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“Banning books is tricky business, Vin—the more stink the Ministry makes about a text, the more attention it will draw, and the more people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/banning-books-is-tricky-business-vin-the-more-stink-the-ministry/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“I'm not, like, a book guy, but isn't the point of all this book stuff like what Ms. Croft was teaching us -- that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-connis/i-m-not-like-a-book-guy-but-isn-t-the-point-of-all-this-book-stuff/) [David Connis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-connis/) > [“There are far more a worst crimes than burning books… Not reading them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/there-are-far-more-a-worst-crimes-than-burning-books-not-reading-them/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [While on the subject of burning books, I want to congratulate librarians, not famous for their physical strength, who, all over this country, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/while-on-the-subject-of-burning-books-i-want-to-congratulate/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Burning books is not as horrible as burning people, because books, contrary to men, are not unique and ideas are fireproof!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/burning-books-is-not-as-horrible-as-burning-people-because-books/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by Abhijit Naskar > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“I hereby propose the term “miserize”, as a verb for misery – referring to “to cause misery”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/i-hereby-propose-the-term-miserize-as-a-verb-for-misery-referring-to/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“There is no time for patience - there is no time for diplomacy - there is no time for policies, legislations and meaningless paperwork.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-is-no-time-for-patience-there-is-no-time-for-diplomacy-there-is/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“human heart only sweetens when broken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/human-heart-only-sweetens-when-broken/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“When all are one sentience, Language withers and fades away. Let's sit together and speak in silence, Let's be light to each other's way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/when-all-are-one-sentience-language-withers-and-fades-away-let-s-sit/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Desert are you, deluge are you, in a crowd of fakes, only truth is you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/desert-are-you-deluge-are-you-in-a-crowd-of-fakes-only-truth-is-you/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Pilgrim of the heart, oneness in our vein - love is the revolution, Human is the name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/pilgrim-of-the-heart-oneness-in-our-vein-love-is-the-revolution-human/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Despite the fact that, the idea of religion has been filled by the human society with all sorts of garbage, and thus been made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/despite-the-fact-that-the-idea-of-religion-has-been-filled-by-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“The representation of women in the society, especially through mass media has been the most delusional act ever done on the grounds of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-representation-of-women-in-the-society-especially-through-mass/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“The same Sermon on the Mount that influenced Tolstoy to write “The Kingdom of God is Within You”, inspired me to a great extent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-same-sermon-on-the-mount-that-influenced-tolstoy-to-write-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“There are no greater or truer lords, gods, fathers, sons or holy spirits, than the humans. Humans are the highest beings on earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-are-no-greater-or-truer-lords-gods-fathers-sons-or-holy-spirits/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Broken polyglots are potent polyglots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/broken-polyglots-are-potent-polyglots/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) [Explore all 1,332 Abhijit Naskar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## More Banning quotes > [Banning sports is a ludicrous proposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pilon/banning-sports-is-a-ludicrous-proposition/) [Mary Pilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pilon/) > [Banning guns, drugs, alcohol, premarital sex, political incorrectness, and gay marriage hasn't worked. We should ban Life. So long as even one of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rock-cowles/banning-guns-drugs-alcohol-premarital-sex-political-incorrectness-and/) [Rock Cowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rock-cowles/) > [My goal is to maintain the international norm on banning chemical weapons. I want that enforcement to be real. I want it to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-goal-is-to-maintain-the-international-norm-on-banning-chemical/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Congratulations to Prince Charles for banning foie gras from all his functions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-to-prince-charles-for-banning-foie-gras-from-all-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most damaging prejudice consists of banning any kind of investigation of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-most-damaging-prejudice-consists-of-banning-any-kind-of/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“Banning something is the easiest way to make it desirable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/banning-something-is-the-easiest-way-to-make-it-desirable/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [If she could have done one thing to make absolutely sure that every single person in this school will read your interview, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-she-could-have-done-one-thing-to-make-absolutely-sure-that-every/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We'll never understand this country as long as book banning, tip lines and legislation to bubble-wrap the tender White souls among us continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/we-ll-never-understand-this-country-as-long-as-book-banning-tip-lines/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [“You owe me this. You made me get rid of my assassin and now I have no control over those creatures that—" That you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-owe-me-this-you-made-me-get-rid-of-my-assassin-and-now-i-have-no/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The idea that somehow or other you can deal with all the problems in the world by banning a particular religious group from entering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/the-idea-that-somehow-or-other-you-can-deal-with-all-the-problems-in/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [“Banning the word bossy doesn’t promote anything, especially leadership. In fact, it would actually show that being bossy works. We don’t need to ban…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-cheney/banning-the-word-bossy-doesn-t-promote-anything-especially-leadership/) [Darrell Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-cheney/) > [Between 1961 and 1982, 'The Catcher in the Rye' was the most censored book in high schools and libraries in the United States. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-grenell/between-1961-and-1982-the-catcher-in-the-rye-was-the-most-censored/) [Richard Grenell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-grenell/) > [“Banning books is tricky business, Vin—the more stink the Ministry makes about a text, the more attention it will draw, and the more people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/banning-books-is-tricky-business-vin-the-more-stink-the-ministry/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [I have said that I am in favor of personhood as a concept. I am not taking a position on any of the state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-buck/i-have-said-that-i-am-in-favor-of-personhood-as-a-concept-i-am-not/) [Ken Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-buck/) > [A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/a-constitutional-amendment-banning-same-sex-marriages-is-a-form-of/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) [Browse all 80 Banning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Book Bans Are Dumb (Sonnet 1587) Book bans are dumb, It makes the mind numb. If banning books were justice, Middle ages would've been fun. I’ve got Mein Kampf on my shelf, next to bible, quran and vedanta. You cannot fathom the wholeness of life, if you let expansion be dictated by law. Expansion can't be contained by law, concocted in the gutter of tribalism. Burning books doesn't prevent darkness, It only obstructs illumination. Book bans are dumb, it makes the world numb. Read reason, fiction, the lot - Stretch your mind beyond medieval vision.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abhijit Naskar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/book-bans-are-dumb-sonnet-1587-book-bans-are-dumb-it-makes-the-mind/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Banning" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/book-bans-are-dumb-sonnet-1587-book-bans-are-dumb-it-makes-the-mind/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/abhijit-naskar-99_bibliophile_book-bans-are-dumb-sonnet-1587-book-bans_18684.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/abhijit-naskar-99_bibliophile_book-bans-are-dumb-sonnet-1587-book-bans_18684.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/abhijit-naskar-99_bibliophile_book-bans-are-dumb-sonnet-1587-book-bans_18684.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Book Bans Are Dumb (Sonnet 1587) Book bans are dumb, It makes the mind numb. If banning books were justice…” — Abhijit Naskar", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abhijit Naskar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Book Bans Are Dumb (Sonnet 1587)...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/book-bans-are-dumb-sonnet-1587-book-bans-are-dumb-it-makes-the-mind/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/book-bans-are-dumb-sonnet-1587-book-bans-are-dumb-it-makes-the-mind/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```