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
A man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders himself without reservation to the temporal claims of a nation, or a party, or a class is rendering to Caesar that which, of all things, most emphatically belongs to God: himself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Individuals should not sacrifice their identity or values for the sake of nationalism or societal demands.
C. S. Lewis emphasizes the importance of maintaining one's individuality and moral integrity over the demands of the nation or any societal group. He suggests that while one may serve their country, they should not completely dedicate their life or identity to it, as doing so would mean giving up the most vital part of themselves, which belongs to a higher moral authority.
Themes
IndividualityServiceNationalismSelfMoral Integrity
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on patriotism, one might invoke this quote to highlight the importance of personal values over blind loyalty.
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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