THE MACHINE STOPS -- E.M. Forster (1909)

[P3nT4gR4m]

Came across this little gem this morning...

Let your ideas be second-hand, and if possible tenth-hand, for then they will be far removed from that disturbing element - direct observation. Do not learn anything about this subject of mine - the French Revolution. Learn instead what I think that Enicharmon thought Urizen thought Gutch thought Ho-Yung thought Chi-Bo-Sing thought LafcadioHearn thought Carlyle thought Mirabeau said about the French Revolution. Through the medium of these ten great minds, the blood that was shed at Paris and the windows that were broken at Versailles will be clarified to an idea which you may employ most profitably in your daily lives. But be sure that the intermediates are many and varied, for in history one authority exists to counteract another. Urizen must counteract the scepticism of Ho-Yung and Enicharmon, I must myself counteract the impetuosity of Gutch. You who listen to me are in a better position to judge about the French Revolution than I am. Your descendants will be even in a better position than you, for they will learn what you think I think, and yet another intermediate will be added to the chain. And in time" - his voice rose - "there will come a generation that had got beyond facts, beyond impressions, a generation absolutely colourless, a generation

seraphically free

From taint of personality,

which will see the French Revolution not as it happened, nor as they would like it to have happened, but as it would have happened, had it taken place in the days of the Machine."

[Honey]

"First-hand ideas do not really exist. They are but the physical impressions produced by live and fear, and on this gross foundation who could erect a philosophy?"
-from that story too

Sweet & sublime!  Thanks for posting the link to this story.  I never read that one & wasn't much enthused with other readings by Forster but maybe I need to go back & read again?  It reminded me of some of Frank Herbert's work (not the Dune stories - the other ones).  I like to think about these kinds of things.  Everything is derived or is a derivative of something else.  Oddly enough, I don't think that's a reason not to try to see something new.  Much of what is learned in various schools is re-hashing what has been already said.  Or critiquing.  I think the ideas might be used like a springboard.