---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Censorship is the commonest social…"
description: "\"Censorship is the commonest social blasphemy because it is mostly concealed, built into us by indolence, self-interest and cowardice.\" — John Osborne"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-osborne-12988_blasphemy_censorship-is-the-commonest-social-blasp_2574414.jpg"
---

#  Censorship is the commonest social blasphemy because it is…

![“Censorship is the commonest social blasphemy because it is mostly concealed, built into us by indolence, self-interest and cowardice.” quote by John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-osborne-12988_blasphemy_censorship-is-the-commonest-social-blasp_2574414.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-osborne-12988_blasphemy_censorship-is-the-commonest-social-blasp_2574414.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-osborne-12988_blasphemy_censorship-is-the-commonest-social-blasp_2574414.jpg)

> “Censorship is the commonest social blasphemy because it is mostly concealed, built into us by indolence, self-interest and cowardice.”

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Censorship hides truth, driven by laziness, self‑interest, and fear.

**In simple terms:** Censorship is a hidden, selfish, fearful act.

Key Takeaway

Question and resist attempts to silence ideas.

Themes

freedom censorship power fear

Mood

critical provocative

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- media regulation
- political debate
- classroom discussion

Key Concepts

social control self‑interest indolence

Questions to Reflect On

- What motivates people to censor?
- When is limiting speech justified?

A Different Perspective

Censorship can sometimes protect vulnerable groups.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Blasphemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blasphemy/) [Blasphemy Concealed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blasphemy-concealed-1720737/) [Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) [Censorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/) [Censorship Commonest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship-commonest-1720735/) [Concealed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concealed/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Indolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indolence/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Propaganda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propaganda/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-interest/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social Blasphemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-blasphemy-1720736/)

## Related quotes

> [In our own time the whole of Greece has been subject to a low birth rate and a general decrease of the population, owing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/in-our-own-time-the-whole-of-greece-has-been-subject-to-a-low-birth/)

[Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/)

> [Indolence is the dry rot of even a good mind and a good character; the practical uselessness of both. It is the waste of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/indolence-is-the-dry-rot-of-even-a-good-mind-and-a-good-character-the/)

[Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/)

> [I suppose that there is no point wasting time being lazy, though of course indolence in a divine way, actually has its advantages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-suppose-that-there-is-no-point-wasting-time-being-lazy-though-of/)

[Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/)

> [Could you understand the meaning of light if there were no darkness to point the contrast? Day and night, life and death, love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/could-you-understand-the-meaning-of-light-if-there-were-no-darkness/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [“You despise books; you whose lives are absorbed in the vanities of ambition, the pursuit of pleasure or indolence; but remember that all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/you-despise-books-you-whose-lives-are-absorbed-in-the-vanities-of/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [It is not error which opposes the progress of truth; it is indolence, obstinacy, the spirit of routine, every thing which favors inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-robert-jacques-turgot-baron-de-laune/it-is-not-error-which-opposes-the-progress-of-truth-it-is-indolence/)

[Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot, Baron de Laune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-robert-jacques-turgot-baron-de-laune/)

> [To an active mind, indolence is more painful than labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/to-an-active-mind-indolence-is-more-painful-than-labor/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [The love of indolence is universal, or next to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-love-of-indolence-is-universal-or-next-to-it/)

[Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/)

> [“A man must find his occasions in himself, it is true. The natural day is very calm, and will hardly reprove his indolence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-man-must-find-his-occasions-in-himself-it-is-true-the-natural-day/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“A sloppy half-Windsor is the first symptom of serial indolence' she replied in the patronizing voice that Yellows reserved for Rule-breakers, 'and ignoring the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/a-sloppy-half-windsor-is-the-first-symptom-of-serial-indolence-she/)

[Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/)

> [To will the impossible is usually a sin of indolence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-lewald/to-will-the-impossible-is-usually-a-sin-of-indolence/)

[Fanny Lewald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-lewald/)

> [The critic is a man who prefers the indolence of opinion to the trials of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mason-brown/the-critic-is-a-man-who-prefers-the-indolence-of-opinion-to-the/)

[John Mason Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mason-brown/)

> [And indeed nothing but the most determined scepticism, along with a great degree of indolence, can justify this aversion to metaphysics. For if truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/and-indeed-nothing-but-the-most-determined-scepticism-along-with-a/)

[David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/)

> [There are two sorts of content; one is connected with exertion, the other with habits of indolence. The first is a virtue; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/there-are-two-sorts-of-content-one-is-connected-with-exertion-the/)

[Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/)

> [Pain, indolence, sterility, endless ennui have also their lesson for you, if you are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/pain-indolence-sterility-endless-ennui-have-also-their-lesson-for-you/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

## More by John Osborne

> [“Why don't we have a little game? Let's pretend that we're human beings, and that we're actually alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/why-don-t-we-have-a-little-game-let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

> [Go on - but don't think you can kill my confidence. I've had experts doing it for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/go-on-but-don-t-think-you-can-kill-my-confidence-i-ve-had-experts/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

> [Don't clap too hard - it's a very old building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/don-t-clap-too-hard-it-s-a-very-old-building/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

> [It is not true that drink changes a man's character. It may reveal it more clearly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/it-is-not-true-that-drink-changes-a-man-s-character-it-may-reveal-it/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

> [And even in the hatred of the majority, there's a kind of triumph because I know that, although they'd never admit it, they secretly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/and-even-in-the-hatred-of-the-majority-there-s-a-kind-of-triumph/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

> [Laughter's the nearest we ever get, or should get, to sainthood. It's the state of grace that saves most of us from contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/laughter-s-the-nearest-we-ever-get-or-should-get-to-sainthood-it-s/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

> [There's no such thing as failure - just waiting for success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/there-s-no-such-thing-as-failure-just-waiting-for-success/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

> [Yes, I loved her. I was in love with her, whatever that may mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/yes-i-loved-her-i-was-in-love-with-her-whatever-that-may-mean/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

> [“I suppose people of our generation aren't able to die for good causes any longer. We had all that done for us, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/i-suppose-people-of-our-generation-aren-t-able-to-die-for-good-causes/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

> [I never deliberately set out to shock, but when people don't walk out of my plays I think there is something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/i-never-deliberately-set-out-to-shock-but-when-people-don-t-walk-out/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

> [Heroes, whatever high ideas we may have of them, are mortal and not divine. We are all as God made us and many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/heroes-whatever-high-ideas-we-may-have-of-them-are-mortal-and-not/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

> [“To be as vehement as he is is to be almost non-committal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/to-be-as-vehement-as-he-is-is-to-be-almost-non-committal/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

> [Here we are, we're alone in the universe, there's no God, it just seems that it all began by something as simple as sunlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/here-we-are-we-re-alone-in-the-universe-there-s-no-god-it-just-seems/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

> [“Alison: I don't think I want anything more to do with love. Any more. I can't take it on. Cliff: You're too young to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/alison-i-don-t-think-i-want-anything-more-to-do-with-love-any-more-i/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

> [You see I learnt at an early age what it was to be angry - angry and helpless. And I can never forget it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/you-see-i-learnt-at-an-early-age-what-it-was-to-be-angry-angry-and/)

[John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

[Explore all 51 John Osborne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/)

## More Blasphemy quotes

> [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Blasphemy and sedition (meaning the truth about Church and State).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/blasphemy-and-sedition-meaning-the-truth-about-church-and-state/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted-by-men-and-decreed-by-human/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [“They're power-hungry, the mundane said of the magical people. They're immoral, people said, and they're scary. Playing with the dark arts could plunge me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-wicker/they-re-power-hungry-the-mundane-said-of-the-magical-people-they-re/)

[Christine Wicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-wicker/)

> [Political correctness is a major defect of the western ethos. Some Western countries have even passed blasphemy laws that would put you in legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/political-correctness-is-a-major-defect-of-the-western-ethos-some/)

[Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/)

> [As George Bernard Shaw observed: "All great truths begin as blasphemies." Yet I have to say, the idea that there is intelligent life elsewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/as-george-bernard-shaw-observed-all-great-truths-begin-as-blasphemies/)

[Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/)

> [Now a doll found naked in a ditch eyes rusted open, is blasphemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-digges/now-a-doll-found-naked-in-a-ditch-eyes-rusted-open-is-blasphemy/)

[Deborah Digges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-digges/)

> [The most important truths always appear first as blasphemies or obscenities. That's why every great innovator is persecuted. And the sacraments look obscene, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/the-most-important-truths-always-appear-first-as-blasphemies-or/)

[Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/)

> [Now 'South Park' - they are interested in blasphemy. They're interested in creating offence for its own sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/now-south-park-they-are-interested-in-blasphemy-they-re-interested-in/)

[David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/)

> [We cannot assume the injustice of any actions which only create offense, and especially as regards religion and morals. He who utters or does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/we-cannot-assume-the-injustice-of-any-actions-which-only-create/)

[Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/)

> [You keep accusing me of blasphemy all of the time, but I cannot be convicted of a victimless crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/you-keep-accusing-me-of-blasphemy-all-of-the-time-but-i-cannot-be/)

[Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/)

> [They say moses split the red sea, I split a blunt and roll a fat one when I'm deadly. blasphemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2pac/they-say-moses-split-the-red-sea-i-split-a-blunt-and-roll-a-fat-one/)

[2pac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2pac/)

> [“...The Presidential election has given me less anxiety than I myself could have imagined. The next administration will be a troublesome one, to whomsoever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-presidential-election-has-given-me-less-anxiety-than-i-myself/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [That in the captains but a choleric word Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/that-in-the-captains-but-a-choleric-word-which-in-the-soldier-is-flat/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“I want blasphemy, murder, rape, revolution, anything, bad or good, but strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-blasphemy-murder-rape-revolution-anything-bad-or-good-but/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 260 Blasphemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blasphemy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Censorship is the commonest social blasphemy because it is mostly concealed, built into us by indolence, self-interest and cowardice.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Osborne"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/censorship-is-the-commonest-social-blasphemy-because-it-is-mostly/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Blasphemy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/censorship-is-the-commonest-social-blasphemy-because-it-is-mostly/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-osborne-12988_blasphemy_censorship-is-the-commonest-social-blasp_2574414.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-osborne-12988_blasphemy_censorship-is-the-commonest-social-blasp_2574414.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-osborne-12988_blasphemy_censorship-is-the-commonest-social-blasp_2574414.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Censorship is the commonest social blasphemy because it is mostly concealed, built into us by indolence…” — John Osborne",
                "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": "John Osborne",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Censorship is the commonest social blasphemy...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/censorship-is-the-commonest-social-blasphemy-because-it-is-mostly/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/censorship-is-the-commonest-social-blasphemy-because-it-is-mostly/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```