Quote by C.S. Lewis
The man who is contented to be only himself, and therefore less a self, is in prison. My own eyes are not enough for me, I will see through those of others. Reality, even seen through the eyes of many, is not enough. I will see what others have invented. Even the eyes of all humanity are not enough. I regret that the brutes connot write books. Very gladly would I learn what face things present to a mouse or a bee; more gladly still would I perceive the olfactory world charged with all the information and emotion it carries for a dog. Literary experience heals the wound, without undermining the privilege, of individuality... in reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself. Like the night sky in the Greek poem, I see with a myriad of eyes, but it is still I who see. Here, as in worship, in love, in moral action, and in knowing, I transcend myself; and am never more myself than when I do.
Summary
This quote by C.S. Lewis highlights the importance of seeking perspectives beyond one's own and transcending individuality through literary experiences. It suggests that being content with only oneself limits personal growth and understanding. Lewis emphasizes the power of imagination, expressing a desire to see through the eyes of others, even animals. By reading great literature, he believes he can become a multitude of personas while still retaining his own identity. In this process, one's understanding expands, wounds are healed, and the beauty of connecting with others is celebrated. Ultimately, true selfhood is found in these transcendent experiences.
By C.S. Lewis
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