"Novels are the Socratic dialogues of our time. Practical wisdom fled from school wisdom into this liberal form"
- Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
About this Quote
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel's quote suggests that novels are a type of useful knowledge that has actually gotten away the confines of conventional school wisdom. He suggests that books are a modern-day equivalent of the Socratic dialogues, which were a series of discussions in between Socrates and his students in ancient Greece. Through these discussions, Socrates sought to discover the fact and impart practical knowledge to his students. Likewise, books are a form of liberal art that can impart useful wisdom to readers. They can supply insight into the human condition and help readers to believe critically about the world around them. By checking out books, readers can gain a better understanding of the intricacies of life and develop their own practical wisdom.
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