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
'The Lion' all began with a picture of a faun carrying an umbrella and parcels in a snowy wood. This picture had been in my mind since I was about sixteen. Then one day, when I was about forty, I said to myself, 'Let's try to make a story about it.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
Creative ideas can originate from simple images or memories.
In this quote, C. S. Lewis reflects on how inspiration for storytelling can come from seemingly trivial images or experiences, which may linger in our minds for years. He emphasizes the importance of embracing these moments of inspiration and translating them into creative works, illustrating how the creative process can take time and reflection before yielding fruitful results.
Themes
CreativityInspirationStorytellingArtMemory
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a writing workshop to inspire participants to find stories in their own memories.
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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