Woe to that nation whose literature is disturbed by the intervention of power. Because that is not just a violation against 'freedom of print', it is the closing down of the heart of the nation, a slashing to pieces of its memory. The nation ceases to be mindful of itself, it is deprived of its spiritual unity, and despite a supposedly common language, compatriots suddenly cease to understand one another
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- State interference in literature destroys a nation's spiritual unity and memory, causing even compatriots to lose mutual understanding.
- In plain terms
- Controlling what people read breaks a nation's soul and memory.
- What can you take from it?
- Protect literary freedom to preserve national memory.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who controls what your nation reads?
- What happens when history is censored?
Another view
Governments may argue some content control is needed for stability.
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