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.
It is because they have no Oyarsa,' said one of the pupils. It is because everyone of them wants to be a little Oyarsa himself,' said Augray.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the desire for power and control that individuals often seek, indicating a common trait of wanting to be in charge or influential.
C. S. Lewis, through this dialogue, highlights a philosophical observation about human nature and the innate desire for influence and status. The mention of 'Oyarsa' symbolizes a higher authority or being, while the longing to be a 'little Oyarsa' suggests how people may wish to emulate that power for themselves, shedding light on the complexities of ambition and the motivations that drive individuals in their pursuits.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about leadership qualities, this quote can illustrate our natural desire for authority.
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.
Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.
Forgiving and being forgiven are two names for the same thing. The important thing is that a discord has been resolved.
I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God - it changes me.
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
Similar quotes
Ladies. Gentlemen. You have eaten well. You've eaten Gotham's wealth. Its spirit. Your feast is nearly over. From this moment on...none of you are safe.
How did you get back?' asked Vautrin. 'I walked,' replied Eugene. 'I wouldn't like half-pleasures, myself,' observed the tempter. 'I'd want to go there in my own carriage, have my own box, and come back in comfort. All or nothing, that's my motto.' 'And a very good one,' said Madame Vauquer.
Having no destination, I am never lost.
If you want to feel connected to your own purpose, know this for certain: Your purpose will only be found in service to others, and in being connected to the something far greater than your mind/body/ego.
It is a debt we owe to the purity of our religion to show that it is at variance with that law which warrants slavery.
But I've got to think of myself as the luckiest guy. Robert Johnson only had one album's worth of work as his legacy. That's all that life allowed him.