"To vest a few fallible men -- prosecutors, judges, jurors -- with vast powers of literary or artistic censorship, to convert them into what J.S. Mill called the "moral police" is to make them despotic arbiters of literary products... If one day they ban mediocre books as obscene, another day they may do otherwise to a work of a genius. Originality, not too plentiful, should be cherished, not stifled. An author's imagination may be cramped if he must write with an eye on prosecutors or juries…"
by:
Jerome D. Frank
(1889-1957)
Source:
Second Circuit of Appeals, 1956
Rating:
Categories:
 
Bookmark and Share  
Reader comments about this quote:
A good observation and conclusion.
 -- Mike, Norwalk     
  • 4
  •  
    Bravo -- and let's start with the repeal of these so-called 'hate crimes' that are nothing more than 'moral police.' Either a crime has been committed or not -- nowhere in our republican form of government do we have a definition of a 'hate' crime. Are we now to elevate name-calling to federal crime? Please, grow up.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
  • 5
  •  
    Well said, E Archer.
     -- jim k, Austin     
  • 1
  •  
     -- Ronw13, Oregon      
    I am in full support of any or all original theories or ideas.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
  •  
     
    Rate this quote!
    How many stars?
    0
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5

     
    What do YOU think?
    Your name:
    Your town:
        CLICK JUST ONCE!

    More Quotations
    Get a Quote-A-Day! Free!
    Liberty Quotes sent to your mail box.
    RSS Subscribe
    Quotes & Quotations - Send This Quote to a Friend

    © 1998-2024 Liberty-Tree.ca