Harold J. Laski: “The problem, now as then, was its translation into institutional terms.”

It has been the historic character of persecution always to degrade the persecutor and to strengthen the persecuted by drawing attention to their claims.

The essence of the persecuting position is always that the persecutor has hold of truth and that he would betray its service by allowing it to be questioned.

Ultimately, that denial is always made upon the same ground: it is insisted that the doctrines or practices attacked are subversive of the civil order.

We grant it in religion to deny it in politics; we grant it in politics, to deny it in economic matters.