--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who can endure a doctrine which would…" description: "\"Who can endure a doctrine which would allow only dentists to say whether our teeth were aching, only cobblers to say whether our shoes hurt us, and onl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/c-s-lewis-2-132_classic_who-can-endure-a-doctrine-which-would-al_1459642.png" --- # Who can endure a doctrine which would allow only dentists… ![“Who can endure a doctrine which would allow only dentists to say whether our teeth were aching, only cobblers to say whether our shoes hurt us, and only governments to tell us whether we were being well governed?” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/c-s-lewis-2-132_classic_who-can-endure-a-doctrine-which-would-al_1459642.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/c-s-lewis-2-132_classic_who-can-endure-a-doctrine-which-would-al_1459642.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/c-s-lewis-2-132_classic_who-can-endure-a-doctrine-which-would-al_1459642.png) > “Who can endure a doctrine which would allow only dentists to say whether our teeth were aching, only cobblers to say whether our shoes hurt us, and only governments to tell us whether we were being well governed?” [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. Authority is questioned when only specialists can judge specific pains, and only governments can claim overall governance, highlighting the absurdity of limiting expertise. **In simple terms:** Limiting judgment to narrow experts is absurd. Key Takeaway Seek broader perspectives beyond narrow expertise. Themes authority expertise governance Mood skeptical thoughtful Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - health care decisions - public policy - personal autonomy - education reform Key Concepts epistemology political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Who decides what truly matters to you? - Can one authority govern all aspects of life? A Different Perspective Specialists cannot address all aspects of well‑being. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allow Dentists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allow-dentists-5269920/) [Classic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classic/) [Cobblers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cobblers/) [Dentist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dentist/) [Dentists Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dentists-say-5269922/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Endure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endure/) [Endure Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endure-doctrine-5269921/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Governments Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments-tell-1574647/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Hurt U](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-u/) [Shoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoes/) [Teeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teeth/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [People have to remember that the armed forces do as democratically elected governments tell them to do. 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