A dogmatic belief in objective value is necessary to the very idea of a rule which is not tyranny or an obedience which is not slavery.
C. S. LewisRead
The man is a humbug — a vulgar, shallow, self-satisfied mind, absolutely inaccessible to the complexities and delicacies of the real world. He has the journalist's air of being a specialist in everything, of taking in all points of view and being always on the side of the angels: he merely annoys a reader who has the least experience of knowing things, of what knowing is like. There is not two pence worth of real thought or real nobility in him. But he isn't dull.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote critiques the superficial nature of certain individuals who lack true understanding or depth.
C. S. Lewis highlights the characteristics of a man who projects himself as knowledgeable and sophisticated but is ultimately shallow and ignorant of deeper complexities. This critique emphasizes the danger of engaging with those who present a façade of intelligence while lacking substance. Such individuals may frustrate those who seek genuine insight and true understanding, as they offer nothing but a shallow perspective.
Themes
SuperficialKnowledgeUnderstandingDepthPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture about critical thinking, one might use this quote to illustrate the importance of seeking deep understanding rather than accepting superficial knowledge.
More from C. S. Lewis
All quotes →I enjoyed my breakfast this morning, and I think that was a good thing and do not think it was condemned by God. But I do not think myself a good man for enjoying it.
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Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.
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Forgiving and being forgiven are two names for the same thing. The important thing is that a discord has been resolved.
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I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God - it changes me.
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The instrument through which you see God is your whole self. And if a man's self is not kept clean and bright, his glimpse of God will be blurred
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