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Books Quote by Stephen King

“Censorship and the suppression of reading materials are rarely about family values and almost always about control--about who is snapping the whip, who is saying no, and who is saying go. Censorship's bottom line is this: if the novel Christine offends me, I don't want just to make sure it's kept…” quote by Stephen King
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““Censorship and the suppression of reading materials are rarely about family values and almost always about control--about who is snapping the whip, who is saying no, and who is saying go. Censorship's bottom line is this: if the novel Christine offends me, I don't want just to make sure it's kept from my kid; I want to make sure it's kept from your kid, as well, and all the kids. This bit of intellectual arrogance, undemocratic and as old as time, is best expressed this way: "If it's bad for me and my family, it's bad for everyone's family.””

Stephen King

About This Quote

Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2015

Censorship is often a tool for power, not protection, using moral pretexts to control what others read.

In simple terms: Censorship is about control, not values.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and resist hidden motives behind bans.

Themes

freedom of expression power control family education

Mood

critical defiant

Type

political social ethical

When to use this quote

  • schools
  • libraries
  • parental decisions
  • political debates

Key Concepts

authoritarianism intellectual freedom social manipulation

Questions to Reflect On

  • Who benefits from restricting access?
  • How can we balance safety and freedom?
A Different Perspective

Censorship can also protect vulnerable audiences from harmful content.

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