This quote suggests that censorship can be a useful tool in maintaining an existing moral order or status quo, but it is ineffective in restoring morality once it has been lost. The reason behind this is that censorship works by suppressing certain ideas, behaviors, or expressions that are deemed immoral or harmful. However, once these moral standards have been compromised or lost, simply suppressing the symptoms (i.e., immoral behaviors or expressions) cannot address the root cause of the problem. Instead, what is needed is an active effort to rebuild or redefine those moral standards.
Applying this concept to today’s world, we can observe how censorship is often used by governments, institutions, and social media platforms to control the spread of harmful or false information. While this can be effective in maintaining certain standards of discourse, it is not sufficient in restoring integrity or truthfulness once they have been compromised. For example, in the context of fake news, simply censoring false information does not necessarily restore trust in the media; it requires an active effort to promote media literacy, transparency, and accountability.
In terms of personal development, this quote can be interpreted as a reminder that suppressing negative habits or thoughts is not enough to bring about meaningful change. For instance, if one struggles with procrastination, simply trying to suppress the urge to procrastinate (i.e., censoring the behavior) may not be effective in the long run. Instead, one needs to actively work on cultivating positive habits, such as discipline and time management, to truly overcome the issue.