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
When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty, I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the transition from childhood to adulthood and the value of embracing one's inner child.
C. S. Lewis's quote highlights the evolution of one's relationship with imagination and innocence over time. As children, we often hide our enjoyment of seemingly 'childish' things due to societal pressures, but with maturity comes the realization that such joys are not just acceptable but also essential to our humanity. Embracing our inner child allows us to retain joy, creativity, and a sense of wonder as we navigate the complexities of adulthood.
Themes
ChildhoodImaginationMaturityGrowthCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about embracing creativity in the workplace.
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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