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
No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Valuable books possess timeless wisdom that remains relevant throughout life.
C. S. Lewis emphasizes that the true worth of a book is not dependent on age or maturity; rather, the insights it offers should resonate and engage readers at many stages of life. A good book should provide depth and learning that can be appreciated both in youth and in later years, enriching the reader's understanding regardless of their life experience.
Themes
BooksReadingWisdomEducationLife
In practice
Example use cases
During a book club discussion about timeless literature.
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
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