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 sign of a culture that has lost its faith - Moral collapse follows upon spiritual collapse.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that a decline in spiritual beliefs leads to a deterioration of moral standards in society.
C. S. Lewis highlights the idea that when a culture loses its spiritual foundation, the moral fabric of that culture begins to fray. This moral collapse can manifest in various ways, impacting individuals and communities as ethical values are abandoned, leading to a society that may struggle with principles of right and wrong. The connection between spirituality and morality suggests that faith and belief systems play a crucial role in guiding human behavior and societal norms.
Themes
CultureFaithMoralitySpiritualityCollapse
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the importance of faith in maintaining ethical standards in society.
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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