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
How difficult it is to avoid having a special standard for oneself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
It highlights the challenge of maintaining objectivity and fairness towards oneself.
C. S. Lewis reflects on the inherent difficulty in applying the same standards to ourselves that we impose on others. People often tend to have leniency and a unique set of rules for their own behavior, which can lead to a lack of self-awareness and accountability. The quote encourages introspection and the pursuit of a consistent ethical framework that treats oneself with the same scrutiny that one applies to others.
Themes
SelfstandardObjectivityIntrospectionAccountabilityPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a personal development seminar discussing self-acceptance and fairness.
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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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