"Areopagitics: A Speech for the Freedom of the Unlicensed Press before the Parliament of England" is a classic work by the great English poet and politician John Milton. In this text, he defends the right to freedom of speech and expresses his belief in the need for the free dissemination of ideas through the press. Milton suggests abandoning the system of coercion in the restriction of printing, and favoring instead the free exchange of ideas. "Areopagitics" is an important work that influenced the development of freedom of expression and the concept of a free press.