Once a profound truth has been seen, it cannot be 'unseen'.
Once a profound truth has been seen, it cannot be 'unseen'. There's no 'going back' to the person you were. Even if such a possibility did exist... why would you want to?
Hear the piercing and unrelenting words of Dave Sim: “Once a profound truth has been seen, it cannot be ‘unseen’. There’s no ‘going back’ to the person you were. Even if such a possibility did exist... why would you want to?” In these lines he speaks of the irreversible power of truth—that it does not merely inform the mind, but transforms the soul. To glimpse a profound truth is to pass through a door that can never again be closed. One may regret it, one may resist it, but one cannot erase it. And in this transformation lies both the burden and the glory of wisdom.
The ancients knew this as the fate of those who pursued enlightenment. Plato’s allegory of the cave shows men staring at shadows, content in ignorance. But when one man is dragged into the sunlight, he sees reality for the first time. He cannot “unsee” the sun, nor can he return to the comfort of illusion. To go back would be to betray his very being. This is what Sim declares: once you behold a truth, you are remade by it, and to seek your old blindness is to reject life itself.
Consider the story of Galileo Galilei. When he turned his telescope to the heavens, he saw the moons of Jupiter circling their planet. This sight shattered the ancient belief that all revolved around the earth. Could he ever “unsee” it? Could he return to the old worldview? No. The truth had branded his vision. Though persecuted, threatened, and forced into silence, his soul could not forget what his eyes had beheld. The truth made him a new man, and there was no going back.
History shows the same in moments of moral awakening. Frederick Douglass, once enslaved, learned to read, and through the written word discovered his own dignity and the truth of his condition. Could he ever again be the submissive slave he once was? Never. The truth had remade him. It drove him to escape, to speak, to fight for the liberation of millions. Even had he been given the chance to return to ignorance, he would have scorned it—for the pain of knowing was greater, but so too was the power.
Why is truth irreversible? Because it reshapes the inner world. It is not like a garment one can put on or off, but like fire that changes the nature of metal. Once gold has been purified, it cannot return to ore; once the eye has seen light, darkness is forever broken. To seek blindness after sight is to long for death. And so Sim asks, with piercing irony: even if you could go back—why would you want to? For ignorance may comfort, but only truth gives freedom.
The lesson is clear: do not fear the truth, even when it burns, for though it changes you, it changes you into something greater. Accept that once you see, you cannot unsee. Instead of longing for the numbness of illusion, embrace the power of awakening. Let it remake your choices, your actions, your destiny. For every profound truth you accept draws you closer to the fullness of life, while every illusion you cling to keeps you chained in shadow.
Therefore, mark these words deep in your soul: truth is irreversible, and transformation is its gift. Do not curse the loss of ignorance, but bless the gain of sight. Welcome the discomfort, endure the change, and step boldly into the new life it reveals. For once you have seen a profound truth, you are no longer who you were—and in that very fact lies the seed of freedom, the strength of wisdom, and the promise of becoming more than you ever imagined.
NYKHANH CO NO Y
This idea that you can never ‘unsee’ a truth really resonates with me because it suggests that knowledge and growth aren’t just fleeting experiences. Once you’ve changed, there’s no going back. But then I wonder, if we could somehow go back, would we want to? If it meant returning to a simpler, less complicated life, is that something we’d be willing to give up? Or do we embrace the challenge that comes with knowing too much?
PMPhuc Minh
I think this quote highlights a powerful aspect of personal evolution—the moment when something significant shifts in your understanding of the world. But what happens when that shift challenges everything you thought you knew about yourself or your beliefs? Do you have to completely redefine who you are? And is it possible to fully embrace this change, or do we always feel a sense of loss for the person we once were?
Aasasfkfaskfl
There’s something both empowering and intimidating about the idea that once we see a profound truth, we can never return to ignorance. Does it mean that we’re forever accountable for our newfound awareness? On the one hand, it feels freeing, like stepping into a new, more enlightened version of yourself. But on the other hand, does this new awareness come with its own set of burdens? Can we ever truly adjust to our new self after such a shift?
NNguyenthihung
This quote really struck me because it suggests that growth is permanent, like an irreversible transformation. It makes me wonder, though: if we can’t ‘unsee’ the truths that change us, does that mean we’re destined to be forever altered? What if the truth we discover isn’t something we’re ready for? Can we find peace with that kind of change, or do we struggle to adapt to a new reality?
QMQuynh My
I think this quote speaks to the irreversible nature of personal growth. Once you experience a profound truth or realization, there's no going back to the way things were. It can feel unsettling at first, but isn't that the beauty of self-discovery? The real question is, do we ever truly want to go back? Isn’t it worth embracing the person we’ve become, even if it means leaving behind a simpler, less enlightened version of ourselves?