morality as to economic and sexual relations as disastrously
wrong; and I regard certain doctrines of the Christian religion
as understood in England to-day with abhorrence. I write plays
with the deliberate object of converting the nation to my
opinions in these matters. I have no other effectual incentive to
write plays, as I am not dependent on the theatre for my
livelihood. If I were prevented from producing immoral and
heretical plays, I should cease to write for the theatre, and
propagate my views from the platform and through books. I mention
these facts to shew that I have a special interest in the
achievement by my profession of those rights of liberty of speech
and conscience which are matters of course in other professions.
I object to censorship not merely because the existing form of it
grievously injures and hinders me individually, but on public
grounds.


THE DEFINITION OF IMMORALITY

In dealing with the question of the censorship, everything
depends on the correct use of the word immorality, and a careful
discrimination between the powers of a magistrate or judge to
administer a code, and those of a censor to please himself.

Whatever is contrary to established manners and customs is
immoral. An immoral act or doctrine is not necessarily a sinful
one: on the contrary, every advance in thought and conduct is by
definition immoral until it has converted the majority. For this
reason it is of the most enormous importance that immorality
should be protected jealously against the attacks of those who