If some books are deemed most baneful and their sale forbid, how, then, with deadlier facts, not dreams of doting men? Those whom books will hurt will not be proof against events. Events, not books, should be forbid.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Melville argues that banning books is less justified than regulating real events. He claims events are more harmful than fiction and should be the focus of control if any.
- In plain terms
- Real events can harm people more than books, so events should be controlled, not books.
- What can you take from it?
- Prioritize addressing real-world harms over censoring ideas.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can books harm as much as events?
- What should be censored?
Another view
The argument assumes fiction cannot harm as much as real events, which is debatable.
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