You either have commercial pressure or ideological pressure. I prefer commercial pressure; otherwise, you can be at the mercy of one or two idiots.
Milos FormanRead
The worst evil is - and that's the product of censorship - is the self-censorship, because that twists spines, that destroys my character because I have to think something else and say something else, I have to always control myself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Censorship can lead to self-censorship, which corrupts one's integrity and true self-expression.
In this quote, Milos Forman highlights the dangers of censorship, specifically how it can incite individuals to self-censor. This internal conflict between genuine thoughts and public expression causes a distortion of character and integrity, leading individuals to live inauthentically as they suppress their true feelings and ideas for fear of repercussions.
Themes
CensorshipSelf-CensorshipIntegrityFreedomExpression
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about the importance of free speech at a university panel.
More from Milos Forman
All quotes →A modern hero is very ambiguous. I went through some very rough times in Czechoslovakia - the occupation by the Germans at the end of the war. We had people going against their tanks with brooms. Are they nuts, or are they heroes?
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Because if you lived, as I did, several years under Nazi totalitarianism, and then 20 years in communist totalitarianism, you would certainly realize how precious freedom is, and how easy it is to lose your freedom.
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Mediocrity never goes away - but neither, I hope, do those who are willing to challenge it.
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