He cannot lock us all up." "He has prisons enough." "For bodies, yes. But what are bodies? He can take our goods, but God will prosper us. He can close the booksellers, but still there will be books. They have their old bones, their glass saints in windows, their candles and shrines, but God has given us the printing press.
by Hilary Mantel (0 Reviews)
In "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel, the narrative touches on the limitations of authoritarian power. The quote emphasizes that while a ruler may control physical bodies through imprisonment, he cannot imprison the thoughts and ideas of the people. Even in the face of oppression, the resilience of the human spirit and the essence of knowledge remain unassailable.
Moreover, the passage reflects on the power of the written word, signifying that despite attempts to silence dissent through censorship or persecution, true wisdom and understanding cannot be extinguished. The mention of the printing press symbolizes liberation, suggesting that as long as ideas can be shared, they will continue to thrive, demonstrating a profound belief in the enduring nature of knowledge.
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