--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We may be sure that the characteristic…" description: "\"We may be sure that the characteristic blindness of the twentieth century [...] lies where we have never suspected it [...] The only palliative is [......" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/c-s-lewis-2-132_blindness_we-may-be-sure-that-the-characteristic-b_801953.jpg" --- # We may be sure that the characteristic blindness of the… ![“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/c-s-lewis-2-132_blindness_we-may-be-sure-that-the-characteristic-b_801953.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/c-s-lewis-2-132_blindness_we-may-be-sure-that-the-characteristic-b_801953.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/c-s-lewis-2-132_blindness_we-may-be-sure-that-the-characteristic-b_801953.jpg) > “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](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. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blindness/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Twentieth century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twentieth-century/) ## Related quotes > [“We may be sure that the characteristic blindness of the twentieth century - the blindness about which posterity will ask, "But how could they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/we-may-be-sure-that-the-characteristic-blindness-of-the-twentieth-2/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-only-palliative-is-to-keep-the-clean-sea-breeze-of-the-centuries/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“The reading of old books enables us to avoid becoming passive captives of the Spirit of the Age by keeping “the clean sea breeze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/the-reading-of-old-books-enables-us-to-avoid-becoming-passive/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [I'm not itching to sue Amazon or Wal-Mart... they sell a lot of books. But the future is very uncertain with books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/i-m-not-itching-to-sue-amazon-or-wal-mart-they-sell-a-lot-of-books/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [I hate those e-books. They cannot be the future. They may well be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-hate-those-e-books-they-cannot-be-the-future-they-may-well-be/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I hate those e-books. They can not be the future... they may well be... I will be dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-hate-those-e-books-they-can-not-be-the-future-they-may-well-be-i/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [What's the best way to ensure a supply of good books in the future? Support up-and-coming writers now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/what-s-the-best-way-to-ensure-a-supply-of-good-books-in-the-future/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“It is a mistake to read too many good books when quite young. A man once told me that he had read all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-s-churchill/it-is-a-mistake-to-read-too-many-good-books-when-quite-young-a-man/) [Winston S. Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-s-churchill/) > [You know, it actually makes me cry reading old conversations and remembering how happy we use to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azhar/you-know-it-actually-makes-me-cry-reading-old-conversations-and/) Azhar > [Reading old texts from you make u smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/reading-old-texts-from-you-make-u-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Well, right now I'm not dead. But when I am, it's like...I don't know, I guess it's like being inside a book that nobody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/well-right-now-i-m-not-dead-but-when-i-am-it-s-like-i-don-t-know-i/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [One of the pleasures of reading old letters is the knowledge that they need no answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/one-of-the-pleasures-of-reading-old-letters-is-the-knowledge-that/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [Reading through all your old messages with your ex and missing what you used to have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-thomason/reading-through-all-your-old-messages-with-your-ex-and-missing-what/) [Jazmin Thomason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-thomason/) > [I doubt if I shall ever have time to read the book again -- there are too many new ones coming out all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-doubt-if-i-shall-ever-have-time-to-read-the-book-again-there-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Reading old messages and remembering how it use to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/reading-old-messages-and-remembering-how-it-use-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Blindness quotes > [I guess I was so blinded by who I wanted you to be, that I didn't see who you really were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-copeland/i-guess-i-was-so-blinded-by-who-i-wanted-you-to-be-that-i-didn-t-see/) [Rachel Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-copeland/) > [I will love you till a mute women tells his deaf friend about a blind women that saw a girl with no legs walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-love-you-till-a-mute-women-tells-his-deaf-friend-about-a-blind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/cynicism-masquerades-as-wisdom-but-it-is-the-farthest-thing-from-it/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“And the blind man said to the deaf man, "Do you see what I hear?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gerard-trotman/and-the-blind-man-said-to-the-deaf-man-do-you-see-what-i-hear/) [Wayne Gerard Trotman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gerard-trotman/) > [With every rising of the sun Think of your life as just begun. The past has shrived and buried deep All yesterdays— there let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/with-every-rising-of-the-sun-think-of-your-life-as-just-begun-the/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [The observation of human blindness and weakness is the result of all philosophy, and meets us at every turn, in spite of our endeavours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-observation-of-human-blindness-and-weakness-is-the-result-of-all/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Some men make money not for the sake of living, but ache In the blindness of greed and live just for their fortune's sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/some-men-make-money-not-for-the-sake-of-living-but-ache-in-the/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/blindness-separates-us-from-things-but-deafness-separates-us-from/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I give money to Unicef because I like the 'bang for your buck' aspect. Here's $10, go and save 1,000 kids from blindness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/i-give-money-to-unicef-because-i-like-the-bang-for-your-buck-aspect/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [The recovery of spiritual sight and the healing of physical blindness have much in common. Some of those whose bodily eyes were blind received…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/the-recovery-of-spiritual-sight-and-the-healing-of-physical-blindness/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [The simplest things to see are the things we are most blind to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milliton-munney/the-simplest-things-to-see-are-the-things-we-are-most-blind-to/) [Milliton MUNNEY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milliton-munney/) > [Blackout is the way we feel how the blind people feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/blackout-is-the-way-we-feel-how-the-blind-people-feel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The blindness of the eye in darkness is as life in the absence of true love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brain-emrys/the-blindness-of-the-eye-in-darkness-is-as-life-in-the-absence-of/) [Brain Emrys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brain-emrys/) > [It was a huge deal, a huge musical discovery that became life lessons learned. You can't return from having an experience like that. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/it-was-a-huge-deal-a-huge-musical-discovery-that-became-life-lessons/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) [Browse all 580 Blindness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blindness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C. S. 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