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
But the most obvious fact about praise — whether of God or anything — strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honor. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise unless (sometimes even if) shyness or the fear of boring others is deliberately brought in to check it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Praise is a natural response to enjoyment and appreciation, often inhibited by shyness or fear of judgment.
C. S. Lewis reflects on the nature of praise, suggesting that it is an inherent reaction to joy and appreciation, whether in relation to God or other subjects. He emphasizes that true enjoyment leads to spontaneous expressions of praise, indicating that our capacity to appreciate and celebrate is often curtailed by social anxieties or inhibitions, rather than a lack of genuine feeling.
Themes
PraiseEnjoymentFearShynessAppreciation
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech celebrating a friend's achievements, one might reference this quote to emphasize the value of recognizing and expressing joy.
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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