Quote by C.S. Lewis

The student is half afraid to meet one of the great philosophers face to face. He feels himself inadequate and thinks he will not understand him. But if he only knew, the great man, just because of his greatness, is much more intelligible than his modern commentator. The simplest student will be able to understand, if not all, yet a very great deal of what Plato said; but hardly anyone can understand some modern books on Platonism.

The student is half afraid to meet one of the great philosop

Summary

This quote highlights the intimidation students often feel when approaching the works of great philosophers. The student's fear stems from their own perceived inadequacy and the belief that they won't comprehend the philosopher's ideas. However, the quote suggests that the great philosopher is actually more accessible and intelligible than modern scholars who analyze their work. It implies that even the simplest student can grasp a significant portion of what a great philosopher like Plato said, whereas understanding modern interpretations of philosophical concepts can be more challenging.

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