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.
Be confident small immortals. You are not the only voice that all things utter, nor is there eternal silence in the places where you cannot come.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote encourages individuals to have confidence in their contributions, suggesting that every voice matters in the larger scheme of existence.
C. S. Lewis's quote highlights the importance of self-confidence and the acknowledgment that every individual's voice has significance. It reassures us that we are not alone in our thoughts and expressions, and even when we feel isolated or unheard, there is a symphony of voices contributing to the greater understanding of existence. This message stands as a reminder to value our unique perspectives and recognize that silence is not the only truth.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote during a motivational speech to inspire students to express their ideas.
More from C. S. Lewis
All quotes βI 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.
Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.
Forgiving and being forgiven are two names for the same thing. The important thing is that a discord has been resolved.
I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God - it changes me.
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
Similar quotes
Our behavior toward each other is the strangest, most unpredictable, and most unaccountable of all the phenomena with which we are obliged to live. In all of nature, there is nothing so threatening to humanity as humanity itself.
When the yogi starts to meditate, he must leave behind all sensory thoughts and all longings for possessions by quieting the waves of feeling (chitta), and the mental restlessness that arises therefrom, through the application of techniques that reinstate the controlling power of the untrammeled superconsciousness of the soul.
All paths are the same: they lead nowhere. However, a path without a heart is never enjoyable. On the other hand, a path with heart is easy - it does not make a warrior work at liking it; it makes for a joyful journey; as long as a man follows it, he is one with it.
Suppose you were the last one left? Suppose you did that to yourself?
People like to pigeonhole and say, Well, I'm a Washington insider, and you know, that's quite silly. What does that even mean?
Sexual intercourse is kicking death in the ass while singing.