"The island was not a prison. But it was a cage with invisible bars, more effective than obvious ones ever could be.

The insular society became more and more complex, and we can look at only a few of its outstanding features. Its literature was a rich one. In addition to cultural compositions there where numerous books which explained the values and achievements of the nation. There was also a system of allegorical fiction which portrayed how terrible life might have been, had society not arranged itself in the present reassuring pattern.

Plausible explanations of almost anything were comparatively easy to produce.

Of course the islanders had plenty of scope for thought and action within their own small domain. The variations of ideas and differences of oppinion gave the impression of freedom of thought.
Thought was encouraged , providing that it was not "absurd".

The work and the emphasis had to take different aspects in accordance with the changes in the community. This made they're reality even more baffling.


(to be continued... )

removed from an idries shah book later to be revealed