Religion: The Quotable Lonergan

FATHER LONERGAN is known for dense, often excruciatingly abstruse prose. Yet somehow he can turn a masterly phrase when the right insight inspires him and on occasion be not only aphoristic but almost poetic. A sampling, beginning with a passage from the preface to Insight that seems prophetic in describing some of the ailments of contemporary society:

"The flight from understanding blocks the insights that concrete situations demand. There follow unintelligent policies and inept courses of action. The situation deteriorates to demand still further insights, and, as they are blocked, policies become more unintelligent and action more inept. What is worse, the...

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