From a Book

Read it in a novel.

The context is that a librarian is trying to defend a book; rather a book termed as "sacrilege" .
So here is a conversation :

Most of the truly great books became great because they once defied or exceeded formula, banality, community tradition. These were the books that dared say something new or say it in a new way. These were the writings filled with fresh, sometimes shocking, ideas.

And we absolutely must support similar writing today. But How ?

One library dean though we should stand for selection as opposed to censorship - selection of the best books, based mainly on the presumed intent of the author and his sincerity of purpose. Selection, he said, begins with a presumption in favour of liberty of thought; censorship, with a presumption in favour of thought control.

Nicely written i feel.