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
These, then, are the two points I wanted to make. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it. These two facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Human beings have an inherent sense of how they should behave, yet they often fail to act accordingly.
C. S. Lewis presents a fundamental observation about human nature: individuals have a common understanding of moral and ethical behavior, often referred to as the Law of Nature, but they frequently fall short of living up to these standards. This dichotomy between knowing what is right and acting in contradiction to it highlights a key aspect of the human experience, prompting us to reflect on our values and behaviors in relation to the world around us.
Themes
Human NatureBehaviorMoral LawSelf-AwarenessPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about ethics, one might say, 'As C. S. Lewis pointed out, we understand what is right, yet we often fail to live up to it.'
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.
C. S. LewisRead
I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God - it changes me.
C. S. LewisRead
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
C. S. LewisRead
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