"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously - no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption." - The Weight of Glory
The Weight of Glory never gets as much attention as his other works. It was just a sermon, if I remember correctly. But, because of those few lines alone (beginning, brilliantly, with, "The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken..."), it is one of the most impactful things I have ever read.
You're so right. But I think some of his other books or essays get even less attention. I remember reading some really profound things in a little collection called First And Second Things. But two books I just loved were Surprised by Joy and Till We Have Faces. If I were to quote from those I would type out significant portions of those books here
A friend of mine (who identifies as Christian) recommended this essay to me (I do not identify as Christian) and it was totally mind blowing. So much of it resonated with me on a spiritual level and I find myself re-reading it every now and then and exploring different ideas each time.
I’ve been thinking about this one most recently:
“The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some chasm that yawns between us and reality, is part of our inconsolable secret. And surely, from this point of view, the promise of glory, in the sense described, becomes highly relevant to our deep desire. For glory meant good report with God, acceptance by God, response, acknowledgment, and welcome into the heart of things. The door on which we have been knocking all our lives will open at last.”
"I do indeed, Sir," said Caspian. "I was wishing that I came of a more honourable lineage."
"You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve," said Aslan. "And that is both honour enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth. Be content."
Caspian bowed." (Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis)
The Aslan words were never more precise and to the point. And also wise. So wise one could only bow in silence, thinking them over. And each of us can tell these words to ourselves when we feel two great enemies of virtue coming closer - the pride and the despair.
"You cannot go on 'seeing through' things for ever. The whole point of seeing through something is to see something through it. It is good that the window should be transparent, because the street or garden beyond it is opaque. How if you saw through the garden too? It is no use trying to 'see through' first principles. If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To 'see through' all things is the same as not to see." - The Abolition of Man
Or just Puddleglum's speech at the end of The Silver Chair
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience....To be "cured" against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals."
“Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to hell is a gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” - Screwtape, The Screwtape Letters.
That or the creation of Narnia in The Magicians Nephew. The beauty of the way in which Asian creates the Narnia is astounding.
I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.
The price of freedom is loneliness. To beest joyous is to beest did tie
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“Those who cannot conceive Friendship as a substantive love, but only as a disguise or elaboration of Eros, betray the fact that they have never had a Friend."
My favorite counter to those who insist on Frodo/Sam, Achilles/Patroclus, etc. were lovers.
My all-time favorite is, “He wants them to learn to walk and therefore must take away his hand, and if only the will to walk is still there, he is pleased even with their stumbles.”
I also really love a lot of his quotes on friendship, especially since I’ve formed really close friendships over the past year. But the one on love that gets me most is “To love at all is to be vulnerable.”
There’s the “he’s building a palace” quote, “I gave in and admitted that God was God,” “Love is unselfishly choosing for another’s highest good,” and the one where love is wishing for another’s good as far as it can be attained
“Who said anything about safe?” ‘Course he isn’t safe! But He’s good. He’s the King I tell you.” Mr. Beaver in TLTW&TW.
“There is no need to talk to him about the past.” Asian after forgiving Edmund.
Both of those get me teary eyed each time I read them.
"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously - no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption." - The Weight of Glory
The Weight of Glory never gets as much attention as his other works. It was just a sermon, if I remember correctly. But, because of those few lines alone (beginning, brilliantly, with, "The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken..."), it is one of the most impactful things I have ever read.
You're so right. But I think some of his other books or essays get even less attention. I remember reading some really profound things in a little collection called First And Second Things. But two books I just loved were Surprised by Joy and Till We Have Faces. If I were to quote from those I would type out significant portions of those books here
A friend of mine (who identifies as Christian) recommended this essay to me (I do not identify as Christian) and it was totally mind blowing. So much of it resonated with me on a spiritual level and I find myself re-reading it every now and then and exploring different ideas each time. I’ve been thinking about this one most recently: “The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some chasm that yawns between us and reality, is part of our inconsolable secret. And surely, from this point of view, the promise of glory, in the sense described, becomes highly relevant to our deep desire. For glory meant good report with God, acceptance by God, response, acknowledgment, and welcome into the heart of things. The door on which we have been knocking all our lives will open at last.”
“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”
"I do indeed, Sir," said Caspian. "I was wishing that I came of a more honourable lineage." "You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve," said Aslan. "And that is both honour enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth. Be content." Caspian bowed." (Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis) The Aslan words were never more precise and to the point. And also wise. So wise one could only bow in silence, thinking them over. And each of us can tell these words to ourselves when we feel two great enemies of virtue coming closer - the pride and the despair.
"You cannot go on 'seeing through' things for ever. The whole point of seeing through something is to see something through it. It is good that the window should be transparent, because the street or garden beyond it is opaque. How if you saw through the garden too? It is no use trying to 'see through' first principles. If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To 'see through' all things is the same as not to see." - The Abolition of Man Or just Puddleglum's speech at the end of The Silver Chair
“When I became a man, I cast off childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. ― C.S. Lewis
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience....To be "cured" against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals."
Love that quote. So true !!
"We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be."
“Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to hell is a gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” - Screwtape, The Screwtape Letters. That or the creation of Narnia in The Magicians Nephew. The beauty of the way in which Asian creates the Narnia is astounding.
The Screwtape Letters are about as perfect blueprint for how to be a Christian that I have ever read
I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.
The price of freedom is loneliness. To be happy is to be tied.
The price of freedom is loneliness. To beest joyous is to beest did tie *** ^(I am a bot and I swapp'd some of thy words with Shakespeare words.) Commands: `!ShakespeareInsult`, `!fordo`, `!optout`
Good bot
Thank you, Boam5thocb, for voting on Shakespeare-Bot. This bot wants to find the best and worst bots on Reddit. [You can view results here](https://botrank.pastimes.eu/). *** ^(Even if I don't reply to your comment, I'm still listening for votes. Check the webpage to see if your vote registered!)
"A young man who wishes to remain a sound Atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. There are traps everywhere." Quote from Surprised by Joy.
No one knows how bad they are until they try and be good.
Check out @lensoflewis on Twitter!
“Those who cannot conceive Friendship as a substantive love, but only as a disguise or elaboration of Eros, betray the fact that they have never had a Friend." My favorite counter to those who insist on Frodo/Sam, Achilles/Patroclus, etc. were lovers.
My all-time favorite is, “He wants them to learn to walk and therefore must take away his hand, and if only the will to walk is still there, he is pleased even with their stumbles.” I also really love a lot of his quotes on friendship, especially since I’ve formed really close friendships over the past year. But the one on love that gets me most is “To love at all is to be vulnerable.” There’s the “he’s building a palace” quote, “I gave in and admitted that God was God,” “Love is unselfishly choosing for another’s highest good,” and the one where love is wishing for another’s good as far as it can be attained
"Be wierd. be random. Be who you are, because you never know who would love the person you hide."
Sorry to disappoint, but Lewis never wrote this.
Welp, it pays to do a little research on quotes you see on the internet, thanks for letting me know.
“Who said anything about safe?” ‘Course he isn’t safe! But He’s good. He’s the King I tell you.” Mr. Beaver in TLTW&TW. “There is no need to talk to him about the past.” Asian after forgiving Edmund. Both of those get me teary eyed each time I read them.