Humanity has not stood still during all these thousands of years. It has decisively changed in most ways, evolved in some ways, and degenerated in others. This is clear when we consider its outer life, but not so clear when we consider its inner life. It will be better grasped if we pause to note that a twentieth-century teaching in its fullness would have been unsuitable for an ancient seeker. Indeed, it would be something which he could assimilate only in part; the rest would be beyond his capacity. When men and women have been brought up only to obey blindly the dead teachers of vanished centuries and never to think anything out for themselves, their true development is hampered. Hence the ancient ideas and practices, which were excellent for the ancient peoples, are not adequate to the needs of today's historical situation.
-- Notebooks Category 20: What Is Philosophy? > Chapter 2 : Its Contemporary Influence > # 58
