Pity was meant to be a spur that drives joy to help misery. But it can be used the wrong way round. It can be used for a kind of blackmailing. Those who choose misery can hold joy up to ransom, by pity.
C. S. LewisRead
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Pity was meant to be a spur that drives joy to help misery. But it can be used the wrong way round. It can be used for a kind of blackmailing. Those who choose misery can hold joy up to ransom, by pity.
Her cheeks were flushed. She caught hold of the Savage's arm and pressed it, limp, against her side. He looked down at her for a moment, pale, pained, desiring, and ashamed of his desire. He was not worthy, not... Their eyes for a moment met. What treasures hers promised! A queen's ransom of temperament. Hastily he looked away, disengaged his imprisoned arm. He was obscurely terrified lest she should cease to be something he could feel himself unworthy of.
In 1975, when my students were kidnapped by rebels, I was accused of hiding instead of trying to save them, and of not giving enough money for their ransom. I wasn't believed.
Titus Andronicus, my lord the Emperor_x000D_ _x000D_ Sends thee this word, that, if thou love thy sons,_x000D_ _x000D_ Let Marcus, Lucius, or thyself, old Titus,_x000D_ _x000D_ Or any one of you, chop off your hand_x000D_ _x000D_ And send it to the King: he for the same_x000D_ _x000D_ Will send thee hither both thy sons alive,_x000D_ _x000D_ And that shall be the ransom for their fault.
You're here for a reason and it's not to hoard a lot of physical stuff.
That the Creator himself comes to us and becomes our ransom - this is the reason for our rejoicing.
Jesus is hungry but feeds others; He grows weary but offers others rest; He is the King Messiah but pays tribute; He is called the devil but casts out demons; He dies the death of a sinner but comes to save His people from their sins; He is sold for thirty pieces of silver but gives His life a ransom for many; He will not turn stones to bread for Himself but gives His own body as bread for people.
Well,' said Ransom, 'if it is a delusion, it's a pretty stubborn one.
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