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
First, I do not sit down at my desk to put into verse something that is already clear in my mind. If it were clear in my mind, I should have no incentive or need to write about it. We do not write in order to be understood; we write in order to understand.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writing serves as a tool for exploration and understanding rather than mere communication.
C. S. Lewis emphasizes that the act of writing is not just a means to express clear thoughts, but rather a process through which we seek to discover and clarify our own ideas. The quote highlights the importance of writing as a reflective practice that helps us grasp complex thoughts and gain insight into our own understanding.
Themes
WritingUnderstandingExplorationClarityExpression
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a writing workshop to motivate participants to explore their thoughts.
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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