John Milton
Areopagitica
A Speech for the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing to the Parliament of England
"Areopagitica" by John Milton is a prose polemic published in 1644 opposing government censorship of printed works. Written during the English Civil War, this impassioned defense challenges Parliament's licensing order requiring pre-publication approval. Milton argues that free access to all ideas—even controversial ones—allows individuals to exercise reason and judgment. Drawing on biblical and classical references, he contends that truth emerges through open discussion rather than state control. This work became one of history's most influential arguments for freedom of speech and expression.