Quote by Graham Greene
Behind the complicated details of the world stand the simplicities: God is good, the grown-up man or woman knows the answer to every question, there is such a thing as truth, and justice is as measured and faultless as a clock. Our heroes are simple: they are brave, they tell the truth, they are good swordsmen and they are never in the long run really defeated. That is why no later books satisfy us like those which were read to us in childhood --for those promised a world of great simplicity of which we knew the rules, but the later books are complicated and contradictory with experience; they are formed out of our own disappointing memories.
Summary
This quote emphasizes the appeal of simple narratives and concepts that are often found in children's books. It suggests that as adults, we long for the perceived simplicity of childhood, where good and evil were clear-cut, and justice prevailed. The heroes of our childhood stories were brave and unyielding, representing values such as honesty and courage. In contrast, as we grow older, we encounter life's complexities and contradictions, which can leave us feeling unsatisfied and disappointed. This quote highlights the nostalgic yearning for the simplicity and clarity of childhood literature that resonates with our desire for an ordered world.
Topics
Simplicity
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