“We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”
Image credits：Aronsyne,”Lewis, age 48″,CC BY-SA 4.0,C.S.-Lewis – C. S. Lewis – Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963
- Born in Ireland
- Writer, scholar
- Had a major influence on fantasy literature and religious thought through his many works, including the Chronicles of Narnia series and The Poetics of Christianity
Quote
“We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”
Explanation
This quote from C. S. Lewis challenges conventional views of progress, presenting it as not always linear or forward-moving. Often, progress is understood in terms of continuous advancement, but Lewis suggests that true progress may require a radical rethinking of one’s path. When someone realizes they are on the wrong road—be it in a personal, professional, or societal sense—the quickest way to make progress is not to persist, but to take an immediate turn towards the right direction. This idea reflects Lewis’s broader philosophy of moral and intellectual growth, especially in the context of a world that may mislead or distract.
In the historical context, Lewis was writing during a time when rapid technological, social, and political changes were happening, especially after the aftermath of World War II. In this period of great upheaval, people were often caught up in the momentum of progress, sometimes without questioning the ethical and spiritual direction in which they were headed. Lewis was critical of blind progress and emphasized the importance of moral clarity over the mere pursuit of advancement for its own sake.
In modern times, the quote can be seen as a reminder to question the paths we take, whether in technology, politics, or our personal lives. For instance, in today’s world, the rapid development of AI and other technologies may bring progress, but it also requires reflection on the ethical implications of their use. Being progressive, according to Lewis, is not just about moving forward but about having the courage to correct one’s course when necessary, which can be more important than following a mistaken path for the sake of progress.
