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
Human culture has always had to exist under the shadow of something infinitely more important than itself. If men had postponed the search for knowledge and beauty until they were secure, the search would never have begun.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The pursuit of knowledge and beauty is essential, even in uncertain conditions.
C. S. Lewis emphasizes that human culture and the quest for understanding and aesthetics cannot wait for the perfect circumstances to thrive. He suggests that the search for knowledge and beauty is fundamental to the human experience, and if individuals waited for complete security to embark on this journey, they would never take the first step. It highlights the importance of taking initiative in the face of uncertainty.
Themes
CultureKnowledgeBeautyPursuitUncertainty
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used to inspire students at a commencement speech urging them to pursue their passions despite challenges.
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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