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
He wondered how he could ever have thought of the planets, even of the Earth, as islands of life and reality floating in a deadly void. Now with a certainty which never after deserted him, he saw the planets - as mere holes or gaps in the living heaven - excluded and rejected wastes of heavy matter and murky air, formed not by addition to, but by subtraction from, the surrounding brightness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests a profound shift in perspective about the nature of existence, comparing planets to voids in an otherwise vibrant universe.
C. S. Lewis reflects on a transformative realization regarding the nature of planets, emphasizing that what we perceive as solid bodies like Earth are actually insignificant gaps in a vast, living cosmos. This passage conveys the idea that reality is filled with life and vibrancy, and that our world is merely a brief interruption in the overwhelming brightness of existence. Lewis's contemplation hints at deeper philosophical questions about life, existence, and our place in the universe.
Themes
PlanetsExistenceVoidRealityPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture about the universe's mysteries, this quote could illustrate the beauty of exploring beyond our known existence.
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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