C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)

Quotes

• God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.

• The salvation of a single soul is more important than the production or preservation of all the epics and tragedies in the world.

• Talk to me about the truth of religion and I'll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I'll listen submissively. But don't come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don't understand.

• All that is not eternal is eternally out of date.

• I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.

• A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you're looking down, you can't see something that's above you.

• The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, but why some do not.

• It is hard to have patience with people who say 'There is no death' or 'Death doesn't matter.'' There is death. And whatever is matters. And whatever happens has consequences, and it and they are irrevocable and irreversible. You might as well say that birth doesn't matter.

• It is only our bad temper that we put down to being tired or worried or hungry; we put our good temper down to ourselves.

• Regarding the debate about faith and works: It�s like asking which blade in a pair of scissors is most important.

• The more often a man feels without acting, the less he'll be able to act. And in the long run, the less he'll be able to feel.

• Telling us to obey instinct is like telling us to obey 'people.' People say different things: so do instincts. Our instincts are at war. Each instinct, if you listen to it, will claim to be gratified at the expense of the rest.

• If one is only to talk from first-hand experience, conversation would be a very poor business.

• Mortal lovers must not try to remain at the first step; for lasting passion is the dream of a harlot and from it we wake in despair.

• Man's conquest of Nature turns out, in the moment of its consummation, to be Nature's conquest of Man.

• Without the aid of trained emotions the intellect is powerless against the animal organism.

• Everything except God has some natural superior; everything except unformed matter has some natural inferior.

• Human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and can't really get rid of it.

• If God is satisfied with the work, the work may be satisfied with itself.

• Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.