Book Quote by Studs Terkel
“The trouble with censorship is that once it starts it is hard to stop. Just about every book contains something that someone objects to.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on censorship, 1990s
Censorship, once begun, becomes self‑reinforcing and difficult to reverse, because every work contains potentially offensive material.
In simple terms: Censorship spreads quickly and is hard to stop.
Key Takeaway
Guard free expression and set clear limits.
Themes
freedom of speech
media
power
control
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
ethical
political
When to use this quote
- publishing
- education
- policy making
- media regulation
Key Concepts
censorship
self‑reinforcement
public discourse
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance protection with openness?
- What mechanisms prevent overreach?
A Different Perspective
Even with safeguards, subjective judgments can still suppress ideas.
![“If no one speaks out for [young readers], if they don’t speak out for themselves, all they’ll get for required reading will be the most bland books available. Instead of finding the information they need at the library, instead of finding novels that illuminate life, they will find only those…” quote by Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/924/judy-blume-2002_age_if-no-one-speaks-out-for-young-readers-i_51912.jpg)
