One of the curious things about censorship is that no one seems to believe in it for himself. We want censorship to protect someone else— the young, the unstable, the suggestible, the stupid. I have never heard of anyone who wanted a film or speaker banned because otherwise he himself might be harmed.
Interpretation
Censorship is often sought to protect others, but not for oneself.
This quote highlights the irony of censorship, suggesting that people typically advocate for restricting information or expression to safeguard others rather than out of self-interest. It questions the motivations behind censorship and implies that individuals rarely feel the need to censor content for their own protection, emphasizing a paradox in the way society approaches freedom of speech and protection from harmful ideas.
In practice
During a debate on freedom of speech, one could use this quote to illustrate the complexities of censorship.
No one can say just how long a message should be, but you rarely hear complaints about a speech being too short. The amateur worries about what he is going to put in his speech or article. The expert worries about what he should take out.
Indeed, at hearing the news that 'the old god is dead', we philosophers and 'free spirits' feel illuminated by a new dawn; our heart overflows with gratitude, amazement, forebodings, expectation - finally the horizon seems clear again, even if not bright; finally our ships may set out again, set out to face any danger; every daring of the lover of knowledge is allowed again; the sea, our sea, lies open again; maybe there has never been such an 'open sea'.
I am, indeed, an absolute materialist so far as actual belief goes; with not a shred of credence in any form of supernaturalism—religion, spiritualism, transcendentalism, metempsychosis, or immortality.
I spit into the face of time that has transfigured me
Full sexual consciousness and a natural regulation of sexual life mean the end of mystical feelings of any kind. In other words, natural sexuality is the deadly enemy of mystical religion. The church, by making the fight over sexuality the center of its dogmas and of its influence over the masses, confirms this concept.
She has seen the mystery hid Under Egypt's pyramid: By those eyelids pale and close Now she knows what Rhamses knows.
Show me the country that has no strikes and I'll show you the country in which there is no liberty.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.