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
If God is Love, He is, by definition, something more than mere kindness. And it appears, from all the records, that though He has often rebuked us and condemned us, He has never regarded us with contempt. He has paid us the intolerable compliment of loving us, in the deepest, most tragic, most inexorable sense.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the nature of divine love, emphasizing its depth beyond simple kindness.
C. S. Lewis articulates a profound understanding of God's love, suggesting that it transcends mere kindness and carries a weight of profound respect and regard for humanity. This love is portrayed not just as affection, but as a complex emotion that acknowledges human flaws and tragedies while still holding a fundamental respect and appreciation for each individual, highlighting both the beauty and complexity of divine love.
Themes
LoveKindnessDivineRespectHumanity
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon discussing the nature of God, this quote can illustrate the deep respect within divine love.
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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