--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pontius Pilate was the first great censor…" description: "\"Pontius Pilate was the first great censor and Jesus Christ the first great victim of censorship\" — Ben Lindsey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/ben-lindsey-48588_censorship_pontius-pilate-was-the-first-great-censo_3212600.png" --- # Pontius Pilate was the first great censor and Jesus Christ… ![“Pontius Pilate was the first great censor and Jesus Christ the first great victim of censorship” quote by Ben Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/ben-lindsey-48588_censorship_pontius-pilate-was-the-first-great-censo_3212600.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/ben-lindsey-48588_censorship_pontius-pilate-was-the-first-great-censo_3212600.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/ben-lindsey-48588_censorship_pontius-pilate-was-the-first-great-censo_3212600.png) > “Pontius Pilate was the first great censor and Jesus Christ the first great victim of censorship” [Ben Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lindsey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He likens Pilate to a censor and Jesus to a victim, highlighting early examples of power suppressing truth. **In simple terms:** Pilate censored; Jesus suffered. Key Takeaway Beware of power that silences truth. Themes censorship power historical parallels Mood critical thought‑provoking Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - politics - religion - media - public discourse Key Concepts authoritarianism martyrdom Questions to Reflect On - How does modern censorship compare? - Who are today's victims of suppression? A Different Perspective Censorship can also protect vulnerable ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Censorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Pilate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilate/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) ## Related quotes > [“Pontius Pilate! God will not let you clean your hands of this!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/pontius-pilate-god-will-not-let-you-clean-your-hands-of-this/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [Auctor nominis eius Christus,Tiberio imperitante, per procuratorem Pontium Pilatum, supplicio affectus erat. Christ, the leader of the sect, had been put to death by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/auctor-nominis-eius-christus-tiberio-imperitante-per-procuratorem/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [One of our most important tasks will be to save future generations from a similar political fate and to maintain for ever watchful in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/one-of-our-most-important-tasks-will-be-to-save-future-generations/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Jesus' death by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate is as sure as anything historical can ever be. For if no follower of Jesus had written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dominic-crossan/jesus-death-by-crucifixion-under-pontius-pilate-is-as-sure-as/) [John Dominic Crossan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dominic-crossan/) > [Jesus was a community organizer, Pontius Pilate was a governor. And perhaps they should understand the role of a community organizer is to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/jesus-was-a-community-organizer-pontius-pilate-was-a-governor-and/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [“Do not make me laugh, stupid Jew.” Pontius Pilate had said upon hearing Anna’s explanation. “Your tribal God, Yahweh. Is a very weak God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-shel/do-not-make-me-laugh-stupid-jew-pontius-pilate-had-said-upon-hearing/) [Viktor Shel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-shel/) > [“But we're not only like Pilate in being cowardly leaders. We can also be like him by being cowards when it comes to suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mckinley/but-we-re-not-only-like-pilate-in-being-cowardly-leaders-we-can-also/) [Mike McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mckinley/) > [“The professor’s motive was in the grand scheme of things terribly petty ” Greenwood said. “"Pilate’s Cross" is inspired by the questions this terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-alexander-greenwood/the-professor-s-motive-was-in-the-grand-scheme-of-things-terribly/) J. Alexander Greenwood > [“The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-smith/the-next-day-the-one-after-preparation-day-the-chief-priests-and-the/) [Scotty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-smith/) > [“Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” – John 19:5”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-morgan/then-jesus-came-out-wearing-the-crown-of-thorns-and-the-purple-robe/) [Robert J. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-morgan/) > [“Pilate had perfected the political art of compromise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stalker/pilate-had-perfected-the-political-art-of-compromise/) [James Stalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stalker/) > [“Pilate, as the histories reveal, was not one for trials. In his ten years as governor of Jerusalem, he had sent thousands upon thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/pilate-as-the-histories-reveal-was-not-one-for-trials-in-his-ten/) [Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/) > [ At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good, and \[he\] was known to be virtuous.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/at-this-time-there-was-a-wise-man-who-was-called-jesus-and-his/) [Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/) > [“Pharaoh is clearly a metaphor. He embodies and represents raw, absolute, worldly power. He is, like Pilate after him, a stand-in for the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/pharaoh-is-clearly-a-metaphor-he-embodies-and-represents-raw-absolute/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [Others of them employ outward marks ... They style themselves Gnostics. They also possess images, some of them painted and others formed from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/others-of-them-employ-outward-marks-they-style-themselves-gnostics/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) ## More by Ben Lindsey > [Motherhood is so honorable a thing that nothing - no convention - can possibly make it dishonorable; and from the standpoint of the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lindsey/motherhood-is-so-honorable-a-thing-that-nothing-no-convention-can/) [Ben Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lindsey/) > [The churches used to win their arguments against atheism, agnosticism, and other burning issues by burning the ismist, which is fine proof that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lindsey/the-churches-used-to-win-their-arguments-against-atheism-agnosticism/) [Ben Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lindsey/) > [I do beseech you to direct your efforts more to preparing youth for the path and less to preparing the path for the youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lindsey/i-do-beseech-you-to-direct-your-efforts-more-to-preparing-youth-for/) [Ben Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lindsey/) > [“{ From Luther Burbank 's funeral. He was loved until he revealed he was an atheist, then he began to receive death threats. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lindsey/from-luther-burbank-s-funeral-he-was-loved-until-he-revealed-he-was/) [Ben Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lindsey/) > [I demand for the unmarried mother, as a sacred channel of life, the same reverence and respect as for the married mother; for Maternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lindsey/i-demand-for-the-unmarried-mother-as-a-sacred-channel-of-life-the/) [Ben Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lindsey/) > [“{ From Lindsey's address at the funeral of renowned scientist Luther Burbank . Burbank was one of the most beloved people in the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lindsey/from-lindsey-s-address-at-the-funeral-of-renowned-scientist-luther/) [Ben Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lindsey/) > [Trouble is, kids feel they have to shock their elders and each generation grows up into something harder to shock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lindsey/trouble-is-kids-feel-they-have-to-shock-their-elders-and-each/) [Ben Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lindsey/) [Explore all 8 Ben Lindsey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lindsey/) ## More Censorship quotes > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [“Censors don’t want children exposed to ideas different from their own. If every individual with an agenda had his/her way, the shelves in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/censors-don-t-want-children-exposed-to-ideas-different-from-their-own/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) > [Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/censorship-is-the-child-of-fear-and-the-father-of-ignorance/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I don't believe in censorship in any form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/i-don-t-believe-in-censorship-in-any-form/) [Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/) > [We must be talented, powerful and resilient creatures indeed given how much we manage to produce despite the constant undercutting, ridicule and needless censorship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/we-must-be-talented-powerful-and-resilient-creatures-indeed-given-how/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [When a critic sets himself up as an arbiter of morality, a judge of the matter and not the manner of a work, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-a-critic-sets-himself-up-as-an-arbiter-of-morality-a-judge-of/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [When there is official censorship it is a sign that speech is serious. Where there is none, it is pretty certain that the official…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/when-there-is-official-censorship-it-is-a-sign-that-speech-is-serious/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [“I agree that it's a shame some books have to suffer ratings that clearly are invalid. However I can't think of a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-y-chandler/i-agree-that-it-s-a-shame-some-books-have-to-suffer-ratings-that/) Otis Y. Chandler > [I think that, honestly, people's censorship issues are personal but I disagree with most of those personal choices that I see others make. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/i-think-that-honestly-people-s-censorship-issues-are-personal-but-i/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [Art made tongue-tied by authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/art-made-tongue-tied-by-authority/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“The tendency to want what has been banned and therefore to presume that it is more worthwhile is not limited to such commodities as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-cialdini/the-tendency-to-want-what-has-been-banned-and-therefore-to-presume/) [Robert B. Cialdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-cialdini/) > [The only thing that is obscene is censorship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-that-is-obscene-is-censorship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In a feature film, the question of censorship always comes up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-jaffrey/in-a-feature-film-the-question-of-censorship-always-comes-up/) [Javed Jaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-jaffrey/) > [“Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/don-t-join-the-book-burners-don-t-think-you-re-going-to-conceal/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [ If no one speaks out for \[young readers\], if they don’t speak out for themselves, all they’ll get for required reading will be the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/if-no-one-speaks-out-for-young-readers-if-they-don-t-speak-out-for/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) [Browse all 884 Censorship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pontius Pilate was the first great censor and Jesus Christ the first great victim of censorship", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Lindsey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lindsey/pontius-pilate-was-the-first-great-censor-and-jesus-christ-the-first/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Censorship" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lindsey/pontius-pilate-was-the-first-great-censor-and-jesus-christ-the-first/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/ben-lindsey-48588_censorship_pontius-pilate-was-the-first-great-censo_3212600.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/ben-lindsey-48588_censorship_pontius-pilate-was-the-first-great-censo_3212600.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/ben-lindsey-48588_censorship_pontius-pilate-was-the-first-great-censo_3212600.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Pontius Pilate was the first great censor and Jesus Christ the first great victim of censorship” — Ben Lindsey", "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": "Ben Lindsey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lindsey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Pontius Pilate was the first great...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lindsey/pontius-pilate-was-the-first-great-censor-and-jesus-christ-the-first/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lindsey/pontius-pilate-was-the-first-great-censor-and-jesus-christ-the-first/#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 } } ] } ```