C.S. Lewis

The Search for Truth

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“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” 
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Truth

The singular connection throughout the narratives of the ancient world was the search for truth. This universal appeal resonates throughout history.  Establishing objective truth is difficult as times because it must pass through the lens of personal values. We want the truth, yet want it to be in compliance with our internal belief system.

Truth exacts a high price; that we relinquish our desire for security and opt for an uncertain, risk-filled existence.  It is as Dumbledore said, In J.K. Rowling’s, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, “The truth…It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.”  Our intrepid ancients accepted the challenge.  Truth and knowledge were preferable to living within a society bound by superstition and controlled by myths and legends.

“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth,” was Henry David Thoreau’s entreaty in Walden. In the end, love, fame, and glory are all subordinate to truth.  It is the genesis of hope, of progress, of moving forward.

“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.”
C.S. Lewis

Never Too Much

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“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” C.S. Lewis

Britain – 1800’s: tea consumption reached an all-time high. Everyone wanted to drink tea but the price was considerable, especially with the amount of import tax levied by the government. It was only a matter of time before the smugglers took over with a vengeance. With supply limited and demand growing exponentially, there was money to be made. The East India Company was not pleased that their monopoly was being challenged. They used their powerful lobby in Parliament (many MPs were their shareholders). William Pitt the younger became Prime Minister in 1783. Even though he was only 24 years old, his strategy was brilliant. Rather than taxing tea imports, he introduced a massive tax increase on windows. In one simple move, tea smuggling came to a standstill.