"The liberty of the press is indeed essential to the nature of a free state: but this consists in laying no previous restraints upon publications, and not in freedom from censure for criminal matter when published. Every freeman has an undoubted right to lay what sentiments he pleases before the public: to forbid this, is to destroy the freedom of the press: but if he publishes what is improper, mischievous, or illegal, he must take the consequence of his own temerity"
About this Quote
That distinction does heavy political work. It lets the regime claim the prestige of liberty while preserving the tools that actually chill speech: prosecutions for seditious libel, blasphemy, “mischief,” the elastic category of “improper.” Blackstone isn’t naïve about how fear operates. His key word is “temerity” - not “misjudgment” or “mistake,” but rash audacity. The subtext is behavioral: publish if you dare, but understand the dare itself may be construed as a crime.
Context matters here: 18th-century Britain wasn’t debating Twitter moderation; it was managing dissent in an empire, balancing a growing print public sphere against anxieties about sedition and disorder. Blackstone’s formula gives the appearance of enlightened governance while keeping speech tethered to deference. It’s a blueprint for a particular kind of “freedom”: the right to speak first, and the obligation to self-censor afterward, under the shadow of punishment.
Quote Details
| Topic | Freedom |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Blackstone, William. (2026, January 11). The liberty of the press is indeed essential to the nature of a free state: but this consists in laying no previous restraints upon publications, and not in freedom from censure for criminal matter when published. Every freeman has an undoubted right to lay what sentiments he pleases before the public: to forbid this, is to destroy the freedom of the press: but if he publishes what is improper, mischievous, or illegal, he must take the consequence of his own temerity. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-liberty-of-the-press-is-indeed-essential-to-173718/
Chicago Style
Blackstone, William. "The liberty of the press is indeed essential to the nature of a free state: but this consists in laying no previous restraints upon publications, and not in freedom from censure for criminal matter when published. Every freeman has an undoubted right to lay what sentiments he pleases before the public: to forbid this, is to destroy the freedom of the press: but if he publishes what is improper, mischievous, or illegal, he must take the consequence of his own temerity." FixQuotes. January 11, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-liberty-of-the-press-is-indeed-essential-to-173718/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"The liberty of the press is indeed essential to the nature of a free state: but this consists in laying no previous restraints upon publications, and not in freedom from censure for criminal matter when published. Every freeman has an undoubted right to lay what sentiments he pleases before the public: to forbid this, is to destroy the freedom of the press: but if he publishes what is improper, mischievous, or illegal, he must take the consequence of his own temerity." FixQuotes, 11 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-liberty-of-the-press-is-indeed-essential-to-173718/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
