--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [If a book were] very innocent, and one…" description: "\"[If a book were] very innocent, and one which might be confided to the reason of any man; not likely to be much read if let alone, but if persecuted, i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca5/thomas-jefferson-43_book_if-a-book-were-very-innocent-and-one-whi_1766472.jpg" --- # \[If a book were\] very innocent, and one which might be… ![“[If a book were] very innocent, and one which might be confided to the reason of any man; not likely to be much read if let alone, but if persecuted, it will be generally read. Every man in the United States will think it a duty to buy a copy, in vindication of his right to buy and to read what he…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca5/thomas-jefferson-43_book_if-a-book-were-very-innocent-and-one-whi_1766472.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca5/thomas-jefferson-43_book_if-a-book-were-very-innocent-and-one-whi_1766472.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca5/thomas-jefferson-43_book_if-a-book-were-very-innocent-and-one-whi_1766472.jpg) > “\[If a book were\] very innocent, and one which might be confided to the reason of any man; not likely to be much read if let alone, but if persecuted, it will be generally read. Every man in the United States will think it a duty to buy a copy, in vindication of his right to buy and to read what he pleases.” [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jefferson argues that censored books become more popular, and that citizens have a duty to support the freedom to read what they choose. **In simple terms:** Censored books attract more readers; reading is a right. Key Takeaway Defend free access to literature. Themes freedom of speech censorship civil duty Mood defensive reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - publishing - education - political activism Key Concepts democracy information rights Questions to Reflect On - Why does persecution increase interest? - How to balance freedom and responsibility? A Different Perspective May underestimate the impact of harmful content. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Innocent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-innocent-1739728/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Copies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copies/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Every man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) [Generally Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generally-read-1739729/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Innocent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocent/) [Likely Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likely-read-1123978/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Persecuted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecuted/) [Please](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/please/) [Read Let](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-let-1583800/) [Read Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-man-966588/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Vindication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vindication/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [You can never read your own book with the innocent anticipation that comes with that first delicious page of a new book, because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/you-can-never-read-your-own-book-with-the-innocent-anticipation-that/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I'm very much, like, 'We've all got to help each other.' If there's a new female writer, I'm much more likely to read her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-pinborough/i-m-very-much-like-we-ve-all-got-to-help-each-other-if-there-s-a-new/) [Sarah Pinborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-pinborough/) > [The simple fact is, the more people who buy your books, the more are likely to read you. That's what I'd like to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/the-simple-fact-is-the-more-people-who-buy-your-books-the-more-are/) [Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/) > [“A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it. Take the shot from the weapon. Breach man's mind. Who knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/a-book-is-a-loaded-gun-in-the-house-next-door-burn-it-take-the-shot/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I read 'Y: The Last Man' once a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/i-read-y-the-last-man-once-a-year/) [CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/) > [A book is a loaded gun in the house next door...Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/a-book-is-a-loaded-gun-in-the-house-next-door-who-knows-who-might-be/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“I wished I had a book. It had been so long since I had read. Could a man forget how to read?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/i-wished-i-had-a-book-it-had-been-so-long-since-i-had-read-could-a/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“Not everyone born free and equal, but everyone made equal. Each man the image of every other; then all are happy, for there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/not-everyone-born-free-and-equal-but-everyone-made-equal-each-man-the/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [What a stupendous, what an incomprehensible machine is man! Who can endure toil, famine, stripes, imprisonment & death itself in vindication of his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-a-stupendous-what-an-incomprehensible-machine-is-man-who-can/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We can generally read a man's purpose towards us in his manner, if his purposes are of much moment to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/we-can-generally-read-a-man-s-purpose-towards-us-in-his-manner-if-his/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [My office-hour reading is fairly ad hoc: I generally read whatever seems relevant to what I'm editing, writing, or thinking about writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/my-office-hour-reading-is-fairly-ad-hoc-i-generally-read-whatever/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [I don't generally read a lot of fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-don-t-generally-read-a-lot-of-fiction/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I love magazines and film critics, so I eat it up. 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I'm more concerned with viewing figures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enfield/i-don-t-mind-what-the-critics-say-but-i-don-t-generally-read-them-i-m/) [Harry Enfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enfield/) ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... 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People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. 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