Absolutes Quote by Michael Lewis
“Time and space are absolute. Diseases are evil spirits that inhabit the body. Parallel lines never meet. The earth is the center of the universe. Children are miniature adults. At one time in history each of these beliefs was generally held to be true. Each, however, gave way to different ideas and even different world views.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Fifth Risk, 2018
Illustrates how once‑accepted scientific and cultural beliefs were later disproved, showing the evolution of knowledge.
In simple terms: Ideas once true can become outdated.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions and stay open to new evidence.
Themes
science
history
philosophy
critical thinking
Mood
reflective
curious
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- education
- research
- public discourse
- media literacy
Key Concepts
paradigm shift
epistemology
skepticism
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs you hold might be challenged soon?
- How do societies adapt to paradigm shifts?
A Different Perspective
Changing deeply held beliefs can meet strong resistance and cultural inertia.
![“Think of two parallel lines. […] One is the life of Lee H. Oswald. One is the conspiracy to kill the President. What bridges the space between them? What makes a connection inevitable? There is a third line. It comes out of dreams, visions, intuitions, prayers, out of the deepest levels of the…” quote by Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c39/don-delillo-294_cause-and-effect_think-of-two-parallel-lines-one-is-the-l_178287.jpg)
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![“Their [the U.S.’s] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as ‘their home — their fortress.’ And good for them, I say. Well done!” quote by Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ec3/vladimir-putin-261_absolutes_their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolu_10791.jpg)
