There now remain only a few books, which they call books…
“There now remain only a few books, which they call books of the lesser prophets; and as I have already shown that the greater are impostors, it would be cowardice to disturb the repose of the little ones. Let them sleep, then, in the arms of their nurses, the priests, and both be forgotten together.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Minor works are dismissed to protect the reputation of greater ones, suggesting cowardice in challenging established ideas.
In simple terms: People protect big ideas by ignoring small ones.
Key Takeaway
Question accepted narratives.
Themes
censorship
intellectual honesty
history
power
Mood
skeptical
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- book reviews
- media criticism
Key Concepts
philosophy
literature
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- Why protect the "greater" works?
- What is lost by silencing lesser voices?
A Different Perspective
Risk of dismissing valuable minor contributions.