Book Burning and Censorship

In the preamble for Virginia's law on religious freedom, Jefferson wrote what he considered to be the starting point. He was

And, since the mind is free, so must thought - and the expression of thought - be free and protected.

In 1786, Jefferson explained why he believed protection of free expression was so important in American law:

...Had the principles which dictated it, been always acted upon by civil governments, the demon of persecution would never have existed; sincere enquiries would never have been discouraged; truth and reason would have had fair play; and most of the evils which have disturbed the peace of the world, and obstructed human improvement, would have been prevented.

Governments which continue to disallow free expression are still causing "most of the evils which have disturbed the peace of the world and obstructed human improvement." Jefferson was right in 1786; he is still right today. That's why freedom of expression is one of America's most cherished legal rights.