Who said “I think you can leave the arts, superior or inferior, to the conscience of mankind.”?

Verified

William Butler Yeats. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceSpeech (7 June 1923), Seanad Éireann (Irish Free Senate), on the Censorship of Films Bill.

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“I think you can leave the arts, superior or inferior, to the conscience of mankind.”
VerifiedSpeech (7 June 1923), Seanad Éireann (Irish Free Senate), on the Censorship of Films Bill. · evidenceCensorship
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Speech (7 June 1923), Seanad Éireann (Irish Free Senate), on the Censorship of Films Bill..

APA

Yeats, W. B. (n.d.). I think you can leave the arts, superior or inferior, to the conscience of mankind. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9104-i-think-you-can-leave-the-arts-superior/

MLA

Yeats, William Butler. “I think you can leave the arts, superior or inferior, to the conscience of mankind.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9104-i-think-you-can-leave-the-arts-superior/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Yeats, William Butler. “I think you can leave the arts, superior or inferior, to the conscience of mankind.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9104-i-think-you-can-leave-the-arts-superior/.