C.S. Lewis has been a profound voice in Christianity, even after his death in 1963. His books challenge thinkers and encourage Christians. What amazes me most about C.S. Lewis is the fact that he became an atheist at age 15. Many people today have walked away from churches and become angry at God and proclaiming He does not exist. As unsettling as this is, people have to walk their own journey and God knows exactly what every person needs – both believers and non-believers. C.S. Lewis became a pillar for developing a strong faith in God and was in a unique position in the intellectual and educational community around the world. I believe that C.S. Lewis was so successful as a writer because he wrote the words God gave him.
Here are 10 powerful C.S. Lewis quotes to learn from today.
10. “It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.” – C.S. Lewis
9. “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” – C.S. Lewis
8. “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” – C.S. Lewis
7. “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” – C.S. Lewis
6. “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.” – C.S. Lewis
5. “The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” – C.S. Lewis
4. “Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.” – C.S. Lewis
3. “Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith but they are afflictions, not sins. Like all afflictions, they are, if we can so take them, our share in the passion of Christ.” – C.S. Lewis
2. “Telling us to obey instinct is like telling us to obey 'people.' People say different things: so do instincts. Our instincts are at war... Each instinct, if you listen to it, will claim to be gratified at the expense of the rest.” – C.S. Lewis
1. “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” – C.S. Lewis
Facts About C.S. Lewis
Clive Staple Lewis was born on November 29, 1898 in Belfast Ireland and his mother died when he was nine years old. He gave up his faith in God in 1911 and his first book, Spirits in Bondage, was published in 1919. He was in the British Army for about 18 months until he was discharged because of a wound. In 1925 he began working at Magdalen College, Oxford and the following year he met J.R.R. Tolkien who became a close friend. C.S. Lewis’ second book, Dymer, was published in 1926. He lost his father in 1929 at age 27 and at age 33 C.S. Lewis converted back to Christianity. There were 35 books published from 1933 through 1966 (three were published after his death).
It’s interesting to me that most of Lewis’ work was published after the age of 35. Our society today is so focused on figuring out a person’s purpose and experiencing instant success. Many people feel pressured to choose their career by the time they are 18. I certainly know that God does plant desires and reveals His plans for people at different ages, but if you hurry through your teenage years and rush your twenties, your eyes may be closed to what God is preparing you for. I wonder if deep down, C.S. Lewis questioned his proclamation of being an atheist since he converted back to Christianity 20 years later. I’m grateful for the spiritual and physical battles Lewis endured as he pressed on in his writing. Don’t give up if you are in the midst of your own battle. You may be the next C.S. Lewis who God is patiently waiting to guide.
Article by Elise Cleary
I am a Christian writer and editor that lives in northern Michigan and thoroughly enjoy music, movies, TV shows, books and other entertainment with a Christian focus. My favorite song is "Oceans" by Hillsong United because it reminds me that has big plans for me and everyone else who puts their trust in Him. There are many movies that have impacted my life, but a few include God's Not Dead, The Shunning and Letters to God. I also write for www.faithandentertainment.com and love connecting with readers, so please don't hesitate to contact me! When I'm not writing I enjoy watching movies and laughing with my busy toddler and husband.
