A dogmatic belief in objective value is necessary to the very idea of a rule which is not tyranny or an obedience which is not slavery.
C. S. LewisRead
But as for Aslan himself, the Beavers and the children didn't know what to do or say when they saw him. People who have not been in Narnia sometimes think that a thing cannot be good and terrible at the same time. If the children had ever thought so, they were cured of it now. For when they tried to look at Aslan's face they just caught a glimpse of the golden mane and the great, royal, solemn, overwhelming eyes; and then they found they couldn't look at him and went all trembly.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote illustrates the complexity of grandeur, depicting how something can evoke both awe and fear.
In this excerpt from C. S. Lewis' work, the character Aslan represents a profound combination of goodness and fearsome power. The Beavers and the children’s reaction reveals that true greatness can inspire admiration and terror simultaneously, challenging the simplistic notion that good and terrible are mutually exclusive. Their inability to gaze directly upon Aslan highlights the overwhelming nature of encountering something truly majestic and divine, resulting in an emotional response that blends reverence with trepidation.
Themes
AslanNarniaGoodnessFearMajestyPowerAwe
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the nature of leadership during a seminar, this quote can be referenced to illustrate the duality of a leader's presence.
More from C. S. Lewis
All quotes →I enjoyed my breakfast this morning, and I think that was a good thing and do not think it was condemned by God. But I do not think myself a good man for enjoying it.
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Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.
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Forgiving and being forgiven are two names for the same thing. The important thing is that a discord has been resolved.
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I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God - it changes me.
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The instrument through which you see God is your whole self. And if a man's self is not kept clean and bright, his glimpse of God will be blurred
C. S. LewisRead
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