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
After an error you need not only to remove the causes but also to correct the error itself: after a sin you must not only, if possible, remove the temptation, you must also go back and repent the sin itself. In each case an 'undoing' is required.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of addressing both the causes and the effects of our mistakes or sins.
C. S. Lewis suggests that when we make a mistake or commit a sin, it is not sufficient to merely eliminate the root cause; we must also confront and rectify the error or wrongdoing itself. This process of 'undoing' implies a deeper introspection and acknowledgment of our actions, urging us to not only seek to prevent future mistakes but also to take responsibility for past ones.
Themes
ErrorSinRepentanceResponsibilityCorrection
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about personal growth, this quote can illustrate the importance of addressing mistakes.
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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