"I am mortified to be told that, in the United States of America, the sale of a book can become a subject of inquiry, and of criminal inquiry too"

This quote by Thomas Jefferson reveals his shock and discouragement at the reality that in the United States of America, the sale of a book can be subject to criminal query. He is mortified that in a country that is supposed to be a beacon of flexibility and democracy, the sale of a book can be viewed as a criminal activity. This quote talks to the importance of flexibility of speech and expression, and the need to secure these rights. It likewise acts as a tip that censorship and the suppression of concepts can have a damaging effect on society. Jefferson's quote is a powerful tip of the significance of protecting our right to flexibility of speech and expression, and of the requirement to guarantee that books are exempt to criminal query.