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Blindness Quote by C. S. Lewis

“We may be sure that the characteristic blindness of the twentieth century [...] lies where we have never suspected it [...] The only palliative is [...] by reading old books. [...] the books of the future would be just as good [...], but unfortunately we cannot get at them.” quote by C. S. Lewis
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“We may be sure that the characteristic blindness of the twentieth century [...] lies where we have never suspected it [...] The only palliative is [...] by reading old books. [...] the books of the future would be just as good [...], but unfortunately we cannot get at them.”

C. S. Lewis

About This Quote

Source Essay: "The Blindness of the Twentieth Century" by C. S. Lewis, 1955

Argues that modern blindness stems from ignoring past wisdom; reading old books offers relief, though future books remain inaccessible.

In simple terms: Learn from the past to avoid blindness.

Key Takeaway

Seek historical insight to understand present challenges.

Themes

history wisdom learning

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

essay philosophical

When to use this quote

  • academic research
  • personal development
  • policy making

Key Concepts

philosophy literature

Questions to Reflect On

  • What lessons can we extract from historical texts?
  • How can we anticipate future insights?
A Different Perspective

Future knowledge may be unattainable.

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