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
I wonder do the gods know what it feels like to be a man.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the human experience and the divine perspective, questioning if gods comprehend human emotions and struggles.
C. S. Lewis, with this quote, poses a thought-provoking question about the nature of existence and the divide between the divine and human experience. It suggests a deep curiosity about whether deities, often perceived as omniscient and detached, truly understand the complexities of human life, including suffering, joy, and the myriad emotions that define our existence. This quote invites contemplation on what it means to be human and the limits of divine understanding regarding human feelings and experiences.
Themes
GodsHuman ExperienceEmotionsExistenceUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about spirituality and the nature of humanity.
More from C. S. Lewis
All quotes βI 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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