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
An almost perfect relationship with his father was the earthly root of all his wisdom. From his own father, he said, he first learned that Fatherhood must be at the core of the universe. [speaking of George MacDonald]
Interpretation
What this quote means
The relationship with one's father can deeply influence a person's understanding of wisdom and the fundamental nature of existence.
C. S. Lewis emphasizes the profound impact of a father's relationship on an individual's wisdom. He suggests that George MacDonald's near-perfect bond with his father shaped his understanding of fatherhood as a central principle of the universe, highlighting the significance of familial bonds in shaping our perception of life and wisdom.
Themes
FatherhoodWisdomRelationshipFamilyInfluence
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal development, one might use this quote to illustrate the role of parental relationships in shaping wisdom.
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.
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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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