Books wont stay banned. They wont burn. Ideas wont go to jail. In the long run of history, the censor and the inquisitor have always lost. The only sure weapon against bad ideas is better ideas. The source of better ideas is wisdom. The surest path to wisdom is a liberal education.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the resilience of books and ideas against censorship and oppression. It suggests that attempts to ban books or suppress ideas are ultimately futile because they cannot be destroyed or imprisoned. Instead, the quote argues that the most effective way to combat bad ideas is through the generation of better ideas, which arises from wisdom. And one of the surest ways to attain wisdom is through a liberal education, implying that a broad and diverse education encourages critical thinking and the development of better ideas.