Henry Steele Commager

Censorship always defeats it own purpose, for it creates in the end the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion.

A free society cherishes nonconformity. It knows from the non-conformist, from the eccentric, have come many of the great ideas.

The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion.

It's awfully hard to be the son of a great man and also of a half-crazy woman.

Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive.

The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose for it creates in the end the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion.