“Don’t join the book burners. Do not think you are going to conceal thoughts by concealing evidence that they ever existed.”
- October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969
- American
- The 34th President of the United States, General, Military Leader
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Quote
“Don’t join the book burners. Do not think you are going to conceal thoughts by concealing evidence that they ever existed.”
Explanation
In this forceful defense of intellectual freedom, Eisenhower warns against censorship, repression, and the destruction of knowledge. The term “book burners” evokes images of authoritarian regimes—most famously the Nazis—who sought to control ideas by literally eliminating the books and records that contained them. Eisenhower’s message is clear: suppressing evidence of an idea does not erase the idea itself, and such acts threaten the very foundation of a free and informed society.
The historical context of this quote is Eisenhower’s 1953 commencement address at Dartmouth College, given amid the Red Scare and McCarthyism, a period marked by political paranoia, blacklists, and cultural suppression. In this atmosphere, books were being challenged or removed from libraries, and academics were being targeted for their beliefs. Eisenhower, though a conservative figure, stood firmly against the suppression of dissenting views, affirming that freedom of thought and expression must be protected, even in times of fear or controversy.
Today, the quote resonates amid ongoing debates about book bans, academic freedom, and the role of dissent in democratic societies. Eisenhower’s words remind us that progress depends on open dialogue, not silence, and that history teaches a clear lesson: censorship breeds ignorance and authoritarianism, not strength or unity. His message is a timeless call to defend the open exchange of ideas as essential to liberty.
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