Jerome D. Frank Quote

“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…”

~ Jerome D. Frank

Second Circuit of Appeals, 1956

Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

A good observation and conclusion.

E Archer, NYC

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.

jim k, Austin

Well said, E Archer.

Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown

I am in full support of any or all original theories or ideas.

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