CS Lewis, a renowned British writer and theologian, is best known for his beloved Chronicles of Narnia series. However, his works extended far beyond children’s literature. One of his most profound and thought-provoking collections of essays is “The Weight of Glory.”
In this collection, Lewis explores deep philosophical and theological concepts, offering a unique perspective on various aspects of life, faith, and humanity. The quotes from “The Weight of Glory” are not only intellectually stimulating but also spiritually enlightening, making them a valuable source of inspiration for readers of all backgrounds.
From the nature of beauty to the importance of humility, Lewis delves into the core of human existence, challenging readers to reflect on their own beliefs and actions. His words resonate with a timeless wisdom that continues to captivate and inspire to this day.
Read these CS Lewis The Weight of Glory Quotes:
“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit.”
“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”
“It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship.”
“Aim at heaven, and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth, and you will get neither.”
“Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring but still intending to do our Enemy’s will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.”
“The weight of glory means either that we are glory-bearers who will one day share in the divine glory, or that we are bearers of a weight that is beyond comprehension. It can be both.”
“The dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare.”
“We must not be troubled by unbelievers when they say that this promise of glory seems to be a bribe. For they do not understand the nature of the reward.”
“There is no neutral ground in the universe; every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counterclaimed by Satan.”
“It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare.”
“The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor’s glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken.”
“Mere improvement is not redemption, though redemption always improves people even here and now and will, in the end, improve them to a degree we cannot yet imagine. God became man to turn creatures into sons: not simply to produce better men of the old kind but to produce a new kind of man.”
“The settled happiness and security which we all desire, God withholds from us by the very nature of the world: but joy, pleasure, and merriment He has scattered broadcast.”
“The demand of the loveless and the self-imprisoned that they should be allowed to blackmail the universe: that till they consent to be happy (on their own terms) no one else shall taste joy: that theirs should be the final power; that Hell should be able to veto Heaven.”
“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”
“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently, He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
“We do not want merely to see beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words—to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.”
“The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor’s glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken.”
“It is safe to tell the pure in heart that they shall see God, for only the pure in heart want to.”
“In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.”
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”
“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”
“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.”
“You must ask for God’s help. Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help, or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again.”
These are just a few of the profound quotes from CS Lewis’ “The Weight of Glory.” Each quote carries a weight of wisdom, inviting readers to contemplate the deeper meaning of life, faith, and the human experience. Whether you are seeking intellectual stimulation or spiritual enlightenment, these quotes will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact.
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