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
All men alike stand condemned, not by alien codes of ethics, but by their own, and all men therefore are conscious of guilt.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that individuals judge themselves by their own moral standards, leading to a universal sense of guilt among humanity.
C. S. Lewis's quote emphasizes that moral judgment is intrinsic and personal rather than imposed externally. It highlights that every person holds themselves accountable according to their own ethical beliefs, resulting in a shared experience of guilt that transcends cultural or societal norms. This universality of conscience reveals a deeper aspect of human nature and moral responsibility.
Themes
GuiltEthicsMoralityConscienceHuman Nature
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about personal responsibility and ethics, this quote can illustrate the burden of self-judgment.
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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