Conception Quote by C. S. Lewis
“We have on the one hand a desperate need; hunger, sickness, and the dread of war. We have, on the other, the conception of something that might meet it: omnicompetent global technocracy. Are not these the ideal opportunity for enslavement? This is how it has entered before; a desperate need (real or apparent) in the one party, a power (real or apparent) to relieve it, in the other.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Abolition of Man, 1943
Desperate crises invite promises of all‑power solutions, which can become tools of oppression.
In simple terms: Crises lead to offers of total control, risking enslavement.
Key Takeaway
Question the motives behind sweeping solutions.
Themes
politics
technology
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
concerned
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- government policy
- emergency response
- tech regulation
Key Concepts
power dynamics
technocracy
human autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards prevent technocratic overreach?
- How do we balance urgency with liberty?
A Different Perspective
Ideal solutions rarely address root causes and can exploit fear.
![“Take sex, for instance.' 'What do you want me to do with it?' 'Try to be serious for a moment. Take the sex life of our father.' [...] Even after a couple of brandies he felt extremely reluctant to discuss sex and his father. 'It's something I'd rather not think about,' he said. 'We all come into…” quote by John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/280/john-mortimer-7362_conception_take-sex-for-instance-what-do-you-want-m_4946.jpg)
