Banned books Quote by Margaret Bald
““For centuries censorship has created best sellers because, as Michel de Montaigne said, 'To forbid us anything is to make us have a mind for it.' (Banned Books: Censorship Histories of World Literature)””
About This Quote
Source Book: Banned Books: Censorship Histories of World Literature, 2021
Censorship fuels curiosity; forbidding something makes people want it more.
In simple terms: Banning ideas increases interest in them.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for open access to ideas.
Themes
censorship
curiosity
freedom
literature
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education policy
- library curation
- publishing decisions
Key Concepts
psychology of desire
information control
Questions to Reflect On
- Why does prohibition spark interest?
- How can societies balance protection and freedom?
A Different Perspective
Over‑emphasis on bans can distract from underlying issues.
![“In the year of Christ 1571, at the age of thirty-eight, on the last day of February, anniversary of his birth, Michel de Montaigne, lon weary of the servitude of the court and of public employments, while still entire, retired to the bosom of the learned Virgins [Muses], where in calm and freedom…” quote by Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d65/michel-de-montaigne-1533-1592_last-day_in-the-year-of-christ-1571-at-the-age-of_2359194.jpg)
