Should We Read Bad Books?
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
Austin, Texas
May 31, 2016 12:35pm CST
Interesting question posed at a blog I recently started following called Bibliophile Cafe. The question was or is: Why read Sade?
For those who are unfamiliar with the Marquis de Sade*, he is a real historical figure and let me just sum his character with one word. Pervert!
To that one word, you could probably add a litany of adjectives … “enlightened” would not be one of them … because you just couldn't help repeating yourself while you were raging against his crudeness and vulgarity.
Of course, (as popular Saturday Night Live comedian Dennis Miller would always say) that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
Some people have described Sade's works as “the vilest works ever written; the Gospel of Evil; an Encyclopedia of depravity”; and have even gone so far as to suggest that his works be burned.
What say you? Should bad books be burned?
For two reasons, I say NO.
First reason.
If you're going to burn books because evil and wicked acts are spelled out clear and plain, the first book people would probably want to justify burning is the Bible.
Second reason.
(Sigh.) If only we could easily rid this world of evil by simply lighting a match.
* Donatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade (1740 – 1814)
Image credit: Bibliophile Cafe
The writings of the Marquis de Sade have been called many things: the vilest works ever written; the Gospel of Evil; an Encyclopedia of depravity. We might ask
4 people like this
4 responses
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
31 May 16
If your burn a book and the author still lives they can just write it again. You didn't burn their brain.
@topffer (42156)
• France
31 May 16
Crudeness, certainly, vulgarity, never : you will not find a line written by Sade justifying this word. He has even be considered as a moralist, in the sense that he always endorses the morals of his time, at least in his counts and plays. A quote from him : "To shock is sweet : it is a little triumph for pride that one should not despise."
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
31 May 16
I have no doubt he has many readers/defenders. He must or people wouldn't be debating or discussing his writings.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
31 May 16
@cmoneyspinner I am not really a defender. I read a few of his works when I was in high school (yes, some of his works are studied in high schools in France
), and a few more later. All I wanted to say, is that he has a perfect style and is never vulgar.
), and a few more later. All I wanted to say, is that he has a perfect style and is never vulgar.1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
31 May 16
@topffer - Don't you dare lick your tongue out at me! 
Seriously? They let y'all read him in high school?? I went to a Catholic high school. No way the sisters were going to list that as "required reading". 
Seriously? They let y'all read him in high school?? I went to a Catholic high school. No way the sisters were going to list that as "required reading". 1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16761)
• China
4 Jun 16
There is no need to burn them ,they can be used as bad and negative example that teaches people what not to do .
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
6 Jun 16
If people read something they think is "garbage" that's usually what they do anyway.
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@Rohvannyn (3098)
• United States
9 Aug 16
Sometimes we need to keep books around even if it is only to warn us how a diseased mind thinks. I am against any sort of burning or censorship - if only because it's such a slippery slope.
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
9 Aug 16
I believe we should be careful of exposing young developing minds. Yes it is a judgment call. But those little people are depending on the big people, the adults to exercise good judgment. My late mother had an expression. There were some topics she didn't even try to explain to me, at a certain age. She used to say “You'll understand it when you get older.” As frustrating as that response was to whatever question it was that I had asked her, I found that when I got older, it happened just as she said it would. I didn't have to ask her to explain. I had grown to the point in maturity and comprehension where I understood the matter on my own. Children should not be expected to think like adults. Their minds are in development and they have to learn to distinguish between what it profitable for them and what is garbage. So in that sense, I believe we should limit their exposure to certain books, movies, music, etc. You're not a child for very long. Children should enjoy their innocence for that extremely brief moment in time. The cruelest thing you can ever do to a child is rob them of their innocence and purity.
