Books Quote by George Bernard Shaw
““Censorship ends in logical completeness when nobody is allowed to read any books except the books that nobody can read." [As quoted in Literary Censorship in England (in Current Opinion , Vol. 55, No. 5, November 1913)]””
About This Quote
Source Article: Literary Censorship in England, Current Opinion, Vol. 55 No. 5, November 1913
Censorship is paradoxical when only unreadable books are permitted, making the restriction meaningless.
In simple terms: Censorship that bans unreadable books is pointless.
Recognize that over‑restricting freedom of reading defeats its purpose.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- library policy
- education
- government regulation
- publishing decisions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What purpose does a ban on unreadable material serve?
- How does this paradox affect public trust in censorship?
If the books are truly unreadable, the ban may be symbolic rather than practical.