--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think anyone should be banned. If…" description: "\"I don't think anyone should be banned. If you don't like a book, set it aside.\" — Vikram Seth" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/vikram-seth-4208_banned_i-don-t-think-anyone-should-be-banned-if_242809.jpg" --- # I don't think anyone should be banned. If you don't like a… ![“I don't think anyone should be banned. If you don't like a book, set it aside.” quote by Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/vikram-seth-4208_banned_i-don-t-think-anyone-should-be-banned-if_242809.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/vikram-seth-4208_banned_i-don-t-think-anyone-should-be-banned-if_242809.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/vikram-seth-4208_banned_i-don-t-think-anyone-should-be-banned-if_242809.jpg) > “I don't think anyone should be banned. If you don't like a book, set it aside.” [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues against banning books, suggesting personal dislike should lead to simply setting the book aside. **In simple terms:** Don’t ban books; just ignore them if you dislike them. Key Takeaway Respect freedom of expression and personal choice. Themes censorship literature personal freedom Mood thought‑provoking balanced Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - libraries - schools - online platforms - public policy Key Concepts intellectual liberty reading habits cultural discourse Questions to Reflect On - Should harmful ideas be restricted? - How do we balance free speech and safety? A Different Perspective Some content may cause harm if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [I think that texting and driving is a 100 percent no-go. I think it should be banned everywhere because you cannot be focused on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-mcnish/i-think-that-texting-and-driving-is-a-100-percent-no-go-i-think-it/) [Allan McNish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-mcnish/) > [The more I like a book, the more reluctant I am to turn the page. Lovers, even book lovers, tend to cling. No one-night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-broyard/the-more-i-like-a-book-the-more-reluctant-i-am-to-turn-the-page/) [Anatole Broyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-broyard/) > [“Sometimes the pain they wish to spare is their own because if you can be convinced to set aside your own dreams, they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/sometimes-the-pain-they-wish-to-spare-is-their-own-because-if-you-can/) [J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/) > [We owe it to the American people to set aside the areas where our ideology may prevent progress and find common ground where there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/we-owe-it-to-the-american-people-to-set-aside-the-areas-where-our/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [I think when hundreds of thousands of lives are on the line, you might have to set aside some principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/i-think-when-hundreds-of-thousands-of-lives-are-on-the-line-you-might/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [“Then she set it aside. (She set everything aside. There was some hollow place inside her that few and grew.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-valentine/then-she-set-it-aside-she-set-everything-aside-there-was-some-hollow/) [Genevieve Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-valentine/) > [“There is something wonderfully sacred that happens when a girl chooses to realize that being set aside is actually God’s call for her to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/there-is-something-wonderfully-sacred-that-happens-when-a-girl/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [“You make me burn with life, and yearn to set aside my cold and distant, solitary ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-reid/you-make-me-burn-with-life-and-yearn-to-set-aside-my-cold-and-distant/) Stacy Reid > [I make a note, set it aside, and hope it makes sense when the time comes to look at it again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-e-westlake/i-make-a-note-set-it-aside-and-hope-it-makes-sense-when-the-time/) [Donald E. Westlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-e-westlake/) > [“Set aside your repertoire of objections and own 100 percent of your focus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/set-aside-your-repertoire-of-objections-and-own-100-percent-of-your/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [To misuse one's talent, to be cavalier about it, to set it aside because of fear or sloth is unpardonable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lee-burke/to-misuse-one-s-talent-to-be-cavalier-about-it-to-set-it-aside/) [James Lee Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lee-burke/) > [Only sometimes when we pick and choose among the rules we discover later that we have set aside something precious in the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-simonson/only-sometimes-when-we-pick-and-choose-among-the-rules-we-discover/) [Helen Simonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-simonson/) > [“Sometimes it seems that God has set us aside, when in reality he is undoing our self-efforts, equipping us with character and building our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan/sometimes-it-seems-that-god-has-set-us-aside-when-in-reality-he-is/) Zondervan > [“They will set aside what they have believed about the world, divesting themselves of all preconceptions, all judgments… They will do it, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-s-tepper/they-will-set-aside-what-they-have-believed-about-the-world-divesting/) [Sheri S. Tepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-s-tepper/) > [Creative work, summarized: In the time you set aside each day to work your ass off, ignore anything that makes you consider stopping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-mann/creative-work-summarized-in-the-time-you-set-aside-each-day-to-work/) [Merlin Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-mann/) ## More by Vikram Seth > [Realism hasn't fallen out of favor with most people, who are interested in people's lives rather than gymnastics of style or literary trends. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/realism-hasn-t-fallen-out-of-favor-with-most-people-who-are/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [It's not the gods But our own hearts We need to fear. The evil starts Against all odds Not there but here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/it-s-not-the-gods-but-our-own-hearts-we-need-to-fear-the-evil-starts/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“But what should I do?' Varun was saying. 'I'm not good for anything.' 'Write a book! Pull a rickshaw! Live! Don't make excuses,' said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/but-what-should-i-do-varun-was-saying-i-m-not-good-for-anything-write/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“In a clear brook With joyful haste The whimsical trout Shot past me like an arrow I play the line of the song, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/in-a-clear-brook-with-joyful-haste-the-whimsical-trout-shot-past-me/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Boredom provides a stronger inclination to write than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/boredom-provides-a-stronger-inclination-to-write-than-anything/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [I don't think people give Indian society enough credit. We may not like to talk much about things but we do, basically, want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-think-people-give-indian-society-enough-credit-we-may-not/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [The problem with too beautiful a view is that it's alright for the mulling stage. But for the writing stage, you want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-problem-with-too-beautiful-a-view-is-that-it-s-alright-for-the/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Romantic retrospect aside, the night spent in the truck is distinctly unpleasant. We are cramped and cold. The much-vaunted heating of the truck is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/romantic-retrospect-aside-the-night-spent-in-the-truck-is-distinctly/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Is it not love that knows how to make smooth things rough and rough things smooth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/is-it-not-love-that-knows-how-to-make-smooth-things-rough-and-rough/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Well, what do you think? Avanti?" "Avanti," cries everyone, and, after a few quick re-tunings of our instruments, and re-initialisings of our hearts, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/well-what-do-you-think-avanti-avanti-cries-everyone-and-after-a-few/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Behind every door on every ordinary street, in every hut in every ordinary village in this middling planet of a trivial star, such riches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/behind-every-door-on-every-ordinary-street-in-every-hut-in-every/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Perhaps it is true that for all the evidence of the mirror, one pictures oneself in some deep niche of the mind as forever 18.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/perhaps-it-is-true-that-for-all-the-evidence-of-the-mirror-one/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [What is the difference between my life and my love? One gets me low, the other lets me go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/what-is-the-difference-between-my-life-and-my-love-one-gets-me-low/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“The past is the past, and he can't make amends, only hope that the gain will outlast the damage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-past-is-the-past-and-he-can-t-make-amends-only-hope-that-the-gain/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“I triumph and rejoice that my action should have obtained your approval; nor am I disturbed when I hear it said that those whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-triumph-and-rejoice-that-my-action-should-have-obtained-your/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) [Explore all 113 Vikram Seth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) ## More Banned quotes > [Former social media user who got sick of it all when I was banned at Digg in 2007. Now Im back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/former-social-media-user-who-got-sick-of-it-all-when-i-was-banned-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [Our main agenda is to have all guns banned of course. We must use whatever means possible. It doesn't matter if you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brady/our-main-agenda-is-to-have-all-guns-banned-of-course-we-must-use/) [Sarah Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brady/) > [I hate that word 'hate' - it should be banned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-appleton/i-hate-that-word-hate-it-should-be-banned/) [Nicole Appleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-appleton/) > [I tried to go to Kosovo to establish a statue to commemorate those who died during the wars, and to discuss moving on, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivica-dacic/i-tried-to-go-to-kosovo-to-establish-a-statue-to-commemorate-those/) [Ivica Dacic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivica-dacic/) > [Nonsmokers should be banned from buying any product a smoker created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/nonsmokers-should-be-banned-from-buying-any-product-a-smoker-created/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [One of the lessons learned during the Vietnam War was that the depiction of wounded soldiers, of coffins stacked higher than their living guards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dean-myers/one-of-the-lessons-learned-during-the-vietnam-war-was-that-the/) [Walter Dean Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-dean-myers/) > [East Germany was so total in its totalitarianism that everything was banned which wasn't compulsory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/east-germany-was-so-total-in-its-totalitarianism-that-everything-was/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Few things in life seem more sexy than a banned book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/few-things-in-life-seem-more-sexy-than-a-banned-book/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I wanted to live with the \*\*\*\*ing manta rays, but they banned me from Sea World.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-wanted-to-live-with-the-ing-manta-rays-but-they-banned-me-from-sea/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [The referee will now keep track of the time on the field and the shootouts have finally been banned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobi-jones/the-referee-will-now-keep-track-of-the-time-on-the-field-and-the/) [Cobi Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobi-jones/) > [As an author, you go into the school, it gets written about in the paper. It sucks that your book was banned, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-de-la-pena/as-an-author-you-go-into-the-school-it-gets-written-about-in-the/) [Matt de la Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-de-la-pena/) > [It's impossible to make a movie out of 'Naked Lunch.' A literal translation just wouldn't work. It would cost $400 million to make and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cronenberg/it-s-impossible-to-make-a-movie-out-of-naked-lunch-a-literal/) [David Cronenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cronenberg/) > [“Banning something is the easiest way to make it desirable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/banning-something-is-the-easiest-way-to-make-it-desirable/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [Many other countries have already banned human cloning, and there are efforts at the UN to make such a ban universal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/many-other-countries-have-already-banned-human-cloning-and-there-are/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) Browse all 283 Banned quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think anyone should be banned. 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