一直钦佩密尔顿的《论出版自由》，今天在地铁赶路时又读一遍。1644年写下的句子，还是掷地有声。

    “当贤哲们劝告我们日夜辛勤地像探寻宝藏一样去寻求智慧时，竟有另一些人命令我们除开法律所规定的以外什么也不许知道，这又是一个多么大的阴谋啊？！”（密尔顿：《论出版自由》，北京：商务印书馆，2009年珍藏版，53页）

    “比方说，一个人在深邃的知识的矿藏里进行过艰苦的劳动以后，已经装满了他的发现物，接着就像上战场一样把他的理性拿出来，摧枯拉朽地击溃了途中所遇到的一切障碍；然后把他的对手叫到平地里来，让他享受阳光与新鲜空气的便利条件，只要求他愿意用辩论的方式来论证一下事理。这时他的对手如果退缩、设下埋伏，并摆出一个许可制的窄桥让挑战者通过；这在战阵中也许是很勇敢的，但在真理的战斗中却是懦弱和胆怯的表现。谁都知道，除开全能的主以外就要数真理最强了。她根本不需要策略、计谋或者许可制来取得胜利。这些都是错误本身用来防卫自己、对抗真理的花招。只要让真理有施展的余地，而不要在睡着了的时候把她捆住就行了。如果把她捆起来，她就不会再说真话，而会像普劳底乌斯被捉住时只说寓言一样。”（密尔顿：《论出版自由》，北京：商务印书馆，2009年珍藏版，53-54页。）

    What a collusion is this, whenas we are exhorted by the wise man to use diligence, to seek for wisdom as for hidd'n treasures early and late, that another order shall enjoyn us to know nothing but by statute. When a man hath bin labouring the hardest labour in the deep mines of knowledge, hath furnisht out his findings in all their equipage, drawn forth his reasons as it were a battell raung'd, scatter'd and defeated all objections in his way, calls out his adversary into the plain, offers him the advantage of wind and sun, if he please; only that he may try the matter by dint of argument, for his opponents then to sculk, to lay ambushments, to keep a narrow bridge of licencing where the challenger should passe, though it be valour anough in souldiership, is but weaknes and cowardice in the wars of Truth. For who knows not that Truth is strong next to the Almighty; she needs no policies, nor stratagems, nor licencings to make her victorious, those are the shifts and the defences that error uses against her power: give her but room, & do not bind her when she sleeps, for then she speaks not true, as the old Proteus did, ...