Areopagitica

I deny not but that it is of greatest concernment in
the church and commonwealth, to have a vigilant
eye how books demean themselves as well as men;
and thereafter to confine, imprison, and do sharpest
justice on them as malefactors: for books are not
absolutely dead things, but do contain a potency of
life in them to be as active as that soul was whose
progeny they are; nay, they do preserve as in a vial
the purest efficacy and extraction of that living
intellect that bred them. I know they are as lively,
and as vigorously productive, as those fabulous
dragon's teeth; and being sown up and down, may
chance to spring up armed men. And yet, on the
other hand, unless wariness be used, as good almost
kill a man as kill a good book: who kills a man kills a
reasonable creature, God's image; but he who
destroys a good book, kills reason itself, kills the
image of God, as it were, in the eye. Many a man
lives a burden to the earth; but a good book is the
precious life-blood of a master-spirit, embalmed and
treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.


                                               John Milton
                                              1644

Areopagitica

Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
Here comes a chopper to chop off your head!