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
Friendship exhibits a glorious "nearness by resemblance" to Heaven itself where the very multitude of the blessed (which no man can number) increases the fruition which each has of God. For every soul, seeing Him in her own way, doubtless communicates that unique vision to all the rest. That, says an old author, is why the Seraphim in Isaiah's vision are crying "Holy, Holy, Holy" to one another (Isaiah VI, 3). The more we thus share the Heavenly Bread between us, the more we shall all have.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Friendship enriches our lives by reflecting shared values and experiences, akin to a communal experience of the divine.
In this quote, C. S. Lewis illustrates how friendship mirrors a heavenly connection where individuals, through their unique perceptions, contribute to a collective understanding and joy. Just as the Seraphim in Isaiah's vision celebrate their divine knowledge together, friendships allow us to share and multiply our joys and insights, enhancing our spiritual and relational fulfillment.
Themes
FriendshipConnectionCommunityShared ExperiencesSpirituality
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the value of connections, I would reference this quote to emphasize the importance of shared experiences.
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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Strange children should smile at each other and say, "Let's play.
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Friendship is the only point in human affairs concerning the benefit of which all, with one voice, agree.
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The sincere friends of this world are as ship lights in the stormiest of nights.
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I always preferred to hang out with the outcasts, 'cause they were cooler; they had better taste in music, for one thing, I guess because they had more time to develop one with the lack of social interaction they had!
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No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books.
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Geese are friends to no one, they bad mouth everybody and everything. But they are companionable once you get used to their ingratitude and false accusations.
E. B. WhiteRead