--- title: "4 Censorship Quotes By John Milton" description: "4 Censorship quotes by John Milton. Plus more from John Milton and more Censorship sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/john-milton-191_book_for-books-are-not-absolutely-dead-things_477071.png" --- > [For books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a potency of life in them to be as active as that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/for-books-are-not-absolutely-dead-things-but-do-contain-a-potency-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/john-milton-191_book_for-books-are-not-absolutely-dead-things_477071.png) > [And yet on the other hand unless warinesse be us'd, as good almost kill a Man as kill a good Book; who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-yet-on-the-other-hand-unless-warinesse-be-us-d-as-good-almost/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/john-milton-191_book_and-yet-on-the-other-hand-unless-warines_777186.png) > [Knowledge cannot defile, nor consequently the books, if the will and conscience be not defiled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-cannot-defile-nor-consequently-the-books-if-the-will-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/john-milton-191_book_knowledge-cannot-defile-nor-consequently_1106883.png) > [Books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a potency of life in them…I know they are as lively and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/books-are-not-absolutely-dead-things-but-do-contain-a-potency-of-life/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/john-milton-191_book_books-are-not-absolutely-dead-things-but_2932195.png) ## Other authors on Censorship - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b020/author-ray-bradbury-77494.jpg) Ray Bradbury 15 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/ray-bradbury/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b021/author-salman-rushdie-82434.jpg) Salman Rushdie 11 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/salman-rushdie/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b014/author-judy-blume-54057.jpg) Judy Blume 11 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/judy-blume/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b020/author-rebecca-mackinnon-77802.jpg) Rebecca MacKinnon 10 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/rebecca-mackinnon/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b001/author-george-bernard-shaw-68.jpg) George Bernard Shaw 10 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/george-bernard-shaw/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b010/author-george-orwell-37887.jpg) George Orwell 8 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/george-orwell/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b008/author-g-r-reader-31875.jpg) G.R. Reader 8 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/g-r-reader/) - [Oliver Markus Malloy 7 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/oliver-markus-malloy/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b024/author-william-o-douglas-95752.jpg) William O. Douglas 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/william-o-douglas/) - [Mark Twain 6 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/mark-twain/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b014/author-julian-assange-54221.jpg) Julian Assange 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/julian-assange/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b001/author-suzy-kassem-596.jpg) Suzy Kassem 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/suzy-kassem/) ## More by John Milton > [Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/love-quarrels-oft-in-pleasing-concord-end/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [What better can we do than prostrate fall before Him reverent, and there confess humbly our faults, and pardon beg with tears watering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/what-better-can-we-do-than-prostrate-fall-before-him-reverent-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-when-night-darkens-the-streets-then-wander-forth-the-sons-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, consult how we may henceforth most offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-re-assembling-our-afflicted-powers-consult-how-we-may-henceforth/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Yet hold it more humane, more heav'nly, first, By winning words to conquer willing hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/yet-hold-it-more-humane-more-heav-nly-first-by-winning-words-to/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [O nightingale, that on yon bloomy spray Warblest at eve, when all the woods are still; Thou with fresh hope the lover's heart dost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/o-nightingale-that-on-yon-bloomy-spray-warblest-at-eve-when-all-the/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The debt immense of endless gratitude, So burthensome, still paying, still to owe; Forgetful what from him I still receivd, And understood not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-debt-immense-of-endless-gratitude-so-burthensome-still-paying/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There is no truth sure enough to justify persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/there-is-no-truth-sure-enough-to-justify-persecution/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [New Presbyter is but Old Priest writ Large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/new-presbyter-is-but-old-priest-writ-large/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And what is faith, love, virtue unassayed Alone, without exterior help sustained?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-what-is-faith-love-virtue-unassayed-alone-without-exterior-help/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [This is servitude, To serve th'unwise, or him who hath rebelled Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, Thyself not free, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/this-is-servitude-to-serve-th-unwise-or-him-who-hath-rebelled-against/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Let us seek Death, or he not found, supply With our own hands his office on ourselves; Why stand we longer shivering under fears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/let-us-seek-death-or-he-not-found-supply-with-our-own-hands-his/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [They are the troublers, they are the dividers of unity, who neglect and don't permit others to unite those dissevered pieces which are yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/they-are-the-troublers-they-are-the-dividers-of-unity-who-neglect-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/john-milton/#itemlist", "name": "4 Censorship Quotes By John Milton", "numberOfItems": 4, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a potency of life in them to be as active as that soul was whose progeny they are; 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