John Reynolds > Quotes

“Great Books Reader is a useful first handbook for facilitating one important virtue: being well-read. Being well-read is not sufficient, and it isn’t the highest virtue to which we can strive, but it is both necessary and practical. We are, after all, people of a Great Book; no Christian leader ought to choose illiteracy or intentionally fail to develop the intellectual skills needed to read well.”
― John Reynolds, The Great Books Reader, Excerpts and Essays on the Most Influential Books in Western Civilization

“Why, then, does truth generate hatred, and why does thy servant who preaches the truth come to be an enemy to them who also love the happy life, which is nothing else than joy in the truth—unless it be that truth is loved in such a way that those who love something else besides her wish that to be the truth which they do love. Since they are unwilling to be deceived, they are unwilling to be convinced that they have been deceived. Therefore, they hate the truth for the sake of whatever it is that they love in place of the truth. They love truth when she shines on them; and hate her when she rebukes them. And since they are not willing to be deceived, but do wish to deceive, they love truth when she reveals herself and hate her when she reveals them. On this account, she will so repay them that those who are unwilling to be exposed by her she will indeed expose against their will, and yet will not disclose herself to them. . . .”
― John Reynolds, The Great Books Reader, Excerpts and Essays on the Most Influential Books in Western Civilization

“Reading only a bit of a great book (e.g., Plato’s Republic) is like getting engaged but never marrying. The initial experience is pleasurable but can become frustrating if prolonged.”
― John Reynolds, The Great Books Reader, Excerpts and Essays on the Most Influential Books in Western Civilization