Book Quote by John Milton
“We should be wary what persecution we raise against the living labors of public men, how we spill that seasoned life of man, preserved and stored up in books, since we see a kind of homicide may be thus committed, sometimes a martyrdom; and if it extend to the whole impression, a kind of massacre, whereof the execution ends not in the slaying of an elemental life, but strikes at the ethereal and fifth essence, the breath of reason itself; slays an immortality rather than a life.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Areopagitica, 1644
The quote warns that suppressing ideas harms the intellectual spirit of society, not just individual lives.
In simple terms: Censorship kills thought, not just people.
Key Takeaway
Protect free expression.
Themes
censorship
intellectual freedom
societal health
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- legislative policy
- media regulation
- education curricula
Key Concepts
philosophy
political theory
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does censorship affect societal progress?
- What balances free speech with harmful content?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook the need for responsible discourse and the danger of harmful ideas.
