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
You must not do, you must not even try to do, the will of the Father unless you are prepared to 'know of the doctrine'.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Understanding and knowledge are prerequisites to acting on one's beliefs or duties.
C. S. Lewis emphasizes that before undertaking any actions based on faith or doctrine, it is crucial to have a thorough understanding of what those beliefs entail. He suggests that one must be prepared and knowledgeable about the teachings or principles of oneβs faith before attempting to fulfill divine expectations.
Themes
KnowledgeFaithUnderstandingActionDoctrine
In practice
Example use cases
In a church sermon discussing the importance of understanding faith before acting.
More from C. S. Lewis
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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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