--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sanity ... had it ever been more than a…" description: "\"Sanity ... had it ever been more than a convention -- a comfortable set of blinkers, an agreed mode of wishful thinking, which excluded from our view t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/c-s-lewis-2-132_blinkers_sanity-had-it-ever-been-more-than-a-conv_3013735.jpg" --- # Sanity ... had it ever been more than a convention -- a… ![“Sanity ... had it ever been more than a convention -- a comfortable set of blinkers, an agreed mode of wishful thinking, which excluded from our view the full strangeness and malevolence of the universe we are compelled to inhabit?” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/c-s-lewis-2-132_blinkers_sanity-had-it-ever-been-more-than-a-conv_3013735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/c-s-lewis-2-132_blinkers_sanity-had-it-ever-been-more-than-a-conv_3013735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/c-s-lewis-2-132_blinkers_sanity-had-it-ever-been-more-than-a-conv_3013735.jpg) > “Sanity ... had it ever been more than a convention -- a comfortable set of blinkers, an agreed mode of wishful thinking, which excluded from our view the full strangeness and malevolence of the universe we are compelled to inhabit?” [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human perception often hides the universe’s true chaos behind comforting beliefs, limiting awareness of its deeper dangers. **In simple terms:** Comfortable beliefs hide true chaos. Key Takeaway Question your assumptions. Themes perception existentialism comfort danger Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal reflection - academic study - spiritual practice Key Concepts philosophy psychology cosmology Questions to Reflect On - How do your beliefs shape what you see? - What might you be overlooking? A Different Perspective Comfort can blind us to real threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blinkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blinkers/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Malevolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malevolence/) [Sanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanity/) [Strangeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangeness/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Wishful thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishful-thinking/) ## Related quotes > [He wondered how he could ever have thought of the planets, even of the Earth, as islands of life and reality floating in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/he-wondered-how-he-could-ever-have-thought-of-the-planets-even-of-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I need advice and opinion-honest opinion. I want to get better. Why go around with blinkers on?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-richardson/i-need-advice-and-opinion-honest-opinion-i-want-to-get-better-why-go/) [Natasha Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-richardson/) > [“Yes, you suck something awful. You’re gonna get yourself or someone else killed. Stop signs are there for a reason! You only get one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hall/yes-you-suck-something-awful-you-re-gonna-get-yourself-or-someone/) [S.E. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hall/) > [Nor bigots who but one way see, through blinkers of authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-green/nor-bigots-who-but-one-way-see-through-blinkers-of-authority/) [Matthew Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-green/) > [“No decent person deliberately chooses to be violent or cruel. We must remove our blinkers and learn that in order to live according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mango-wodzak/no-decent-person-deliberately-chooses-to-be-violent-or-cruel-we-must/) [Mango Wodzak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mango-wodzak/) > [Imagine driving a car that isn't working well. When you step on the gas the car sometimes lurches forward and sometimes doesn't respond. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-greenspan/imagine-driving-a-car-that-isn-t-working-well-when-you-step-on-the/) [Stanley Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-greenspan/) > [Goals too clearly defined can become blinkers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-catherine-bateson/goals-too-clearly-defined-can-become-blinkers/) [Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-catherine-bateson/) > [Researchers find it very necessary to keep blinkers on. They don't want to admit that the animals they are working with have feelings. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/researchers-find-it-very-necessary-to-keep-blinkers-on-they-don-t-2/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [Today many politicians suggest that where the federal government does not act, there must be anarchy. That view is odd, blinkering out the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/today-many-politicians-suggest-that-where-the-federal-government-does/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Researchers find it very necessary to keep blinkers on. They don't want to admit that the animals they are working with have feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/researchers-find-it-very-necessary-to-keep-blinkers-on-they-don-t/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [You are thinking about where your brain is at any time. It's very tricky but it's why women are very well suited to rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/you-are-thinking-about-where-your-brain-is-at-any-time-it-s-very/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I have a clear view of 12 years of history of my inner self. First the cramped self, that self with big blinkers, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/i-have-a-clear-view-of-12-years-of-history-of-my-inner-self-first-the/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [“Before the telescope and the microscope were invented the mankind was wearing blinkers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-z-riffi/before-the-telescope-and-the-microscope-were-invented-the-mankind-was/) [M.Z.Riffi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-z-riffi/) > [Lloyd George is a one-eyed fellow in blinkers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-primrose-5th-earl-of-rosebery/lloyd-george-is-a-one-eyed-fellow-in-blinkers/) [Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-primrose-5th-earl-of-rosebery/) > [I live in Selfridges because it has everything under one roof. Liberty's is great for the same reason - I'm so lazy, I hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan-smith/i-live-in-selfridges-because-it-has-everything-under-one-roof-liberty/) [Sheridan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheridan-smith/) ## More by C. S. Lewis > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/either-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-or-a-madman-or-worse-but-his-being/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [To every soul, God will look like its first love because He IS its first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/to-every-soul-god-will-look-like-its-first-love-because-he-is-its/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Don't you understand anything? Isn't it absolutely essential to keep a fierce Left and a fierce Right, both on their toes and each terrified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/don-t-you-understand-anything-isn-t-it-absolutely-essential-to-keep-a/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Really great moral teachers never do introduce new moralities: it is quacks and cranks who do that. As”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/really-great-moral-teachers-never-do-introduce-new-moralities-it-is/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“When He died in the Wounded World He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/when-he-died-in-the-wounded-world-he-died-not-for-men-but-for-each/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job...And I'm prepared to say on that basis if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-i-am-in-private-life-is-a-literary-critic-and-historian-that-s-my/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [If a man is going to write on chemistry, he learns chemistry. The same is true of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-a-man-is-going-to-write-on-chemistry-he-learns-chemistry-the-same/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-first-fact-in-the-history-of-christendom-is-a-number-of-people/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I#pray because the need flows out of me all the time-walking and sleeping. It does not change # God - it changes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-the-need-flows-out-of-me-all-the-time-walking-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Are the gods not just?' 'Oh no, child. What would become us us if they were?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/are-the-gods-not-just-oh-no-child-what-would-become-us-us-if-they-were/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Love is more than an emotion, it is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/love-is-more-than-an-emotion-it-is-a-decision/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Ink is the great cure for all human ills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/ink-is-the-great-cure-for-all-human-ills/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-man-may-have-to-die-for-our-country-but-no-man-must-in-any/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [War creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/war-creates-no-absolutely-new-situation-it-simply-aggravates-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Explore all 1,190 C. S. Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More Blinkers quotes > [I need advice and opinion-honest opinion. I want to get better. Why go around with blinkers on?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-richardson/i-need-advice-and-opinion-honest-opinion-i-want-to-get-better-why-go/) [Natasha Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-richardson/) > [Lloyd George is a one-eyed fellow in blinkers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-primrose-5th-earl-of-rosebery/lloyd-george-is-a-one-eyed-fellow-in-blinkers/) [Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-primrose-5th-earl-of-rosebery/) > [“Before the telescope and the microscope were invented the mankind was wearing blinkers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-z-riffi/before-the-telescope-and-the-microscope-were-invented-the-mankind-was/) [M.Z.Riffi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-z-riffi/) > [I have a clear view of 12 years of history of my inner self. First the cramped self, that self with big blinkers, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/i-have-a-clear-view-of-12-years-of-history-of-my-inner-self-first-the/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [You are thinking about where your brain is at any time. It's very tricky but it's why women are very well suited to rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/you-are-thinking-about-where-your-brain-is-at-any-time-it-s-very/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Researchers find it very necessary to keep blinkers on. They don't want to admit that the animals they are working with have feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/researchers-find-it-very-necessary-to-keep-blinkers-on-they-don-t/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [Today many politicians suggest that where the federal government does not act, there must be anarchy. That view is odd, blinkering out the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/today-many-politicians-suggest-that-where-the-federal-government-does/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Researchers find it very necessary to keep blinkers on. They don't want to admit that the animals they are working with have feelings. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/researchers-find-it-very-necessary-to-keep-blinkers-on-they-don-t-2/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [Goals too clearly defined can become blinkers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-catherine-bateson/goals-too-clearly-defined-can-become-blinkers/) [Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-catherine-bateson/) > [Imagine driving a car that isn't working well. When you step on the gas the car sometimes lurches forward and sometimes doesn't respond. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-greenspan/imagine-driving-a-car-that-isn-t-working-well-when-you-step-on-the/) [Stanley Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-greenspan/) > [“No decent person deliberately chooses to be violent or cruel. We must remove our blinkers and learn that in order to live according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mango-wodzak/no-decent-person-deliberately-chooses-to-be-violent-or-cruel-we-must/) [Mango Wodzak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mango-wodzak/) > [Nor bigots who but one way see, through blinkers of authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-green/nor-bigots-who-but-one-way-see-through-blinkers-of-authority/) [Matthew Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-green/) > [“Yes, you suck something awful. You’re gonna get yourself or someone else killed. Stop signs are there for a reason! You only get one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hall/yes-you-suck-something-awful-you-re-gonna-get-yourself-or-someone/) [S.E. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hall/) > [I live in Selfridges because it has everything under one roof. Liberty's is great for the same reason - I'm so lazy, I hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan-smith/i-live-in-selfridges-because-it-has-everything-under-one-roof-liberty/) [Sheridan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheridan-smith/) > [The bleak truth is that, under normal conditions, most of North America and Europe are buried under about 1.5km of ice. This bitterly frigid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-chapman/the-bleak-truth-is-that-under-normal-conditions-most-of-north-america/) Philip K. Chapman [Browse all 18 Blinkers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blinkers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sanity ... had it ever been more than a convention -- a comfortable set of blinkers, an agreed mode of wishful thinking, which excluded from our view the full strangeness and malevolence of the universe we are compelled to inhabit?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C. S. 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