This quote, attributed to Stefan Zweig, highlights a profound truth about the nature of customs and traditions. Customs—our habitual ways of thinking and acting—can often obscure our perception of reality. They act as filters or lenses through which we view the world, but these lenses are not always clear or unbiased. By clinging rigidly to customs, we risk seeing things not as they truly are but as they are framed by convention and habit. In essence, customs can distort our understanding by introducing preconceived notions and limiting perspectives.

Freedom from customs, therefore, is akin to liberating oneself from these obscuring layers, allowing an unobstructed view of the "true face of things." This implies that to truly understand reality, it is necessary to challenge inherited beliefs and norms that we often accept unconsciously. It encourages critical thinking and self-reflection, pushing us to question why we do what we do, believe what we believe, and whether those beliefs withstand scrutiny independent of tradition.

In today’s fast-evolving world, where rapid change and cultural intersectionality are common, this message feels especially relevant. Being shackled by outdated customs limits innovation, empathy, and growth. Embracing the freedom from customs invites openness and clarity, enabling authentic connections and judgments rooted in reality rather than conformity.

Overall, the quote reminds us that while customs can provide structure and identity, they should not blind us. True enlightenment requires peeling back the layers of convention to see the essence beneath—a challenging but necessary endeavor for genuine understanding and freedom.