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
It is because they have no Oyarsa,' said one of the pupils. It is because everyone of them wants to be a little Oyarsa himself,' said Augray.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the desire for power and control that individuals often seek, indicating a common trait of wanting to be in charge or influential.
C. S. Lewis, through this dialogue, highlights a philosophical observation about human nature and the innate desire for influence and status. The mention of 'Oyarsa' symbolizes a higher authority or being, while the longing to be a 'little Oyarsa' suggests how people may wish to emulate that power for themselves, shedding light on the complexities of ambition and the motivations that drive individuals in their pursuits.
Themes
PowerControlAmbitionInfluenceHuman Nature
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about leadership qualities, this quote can illustrate our natural desire for authority.
More from C. S. Lewis
All quotes βI 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.
C. S. LewisRead
Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.
C. S. LewisRead
Forgiving and being forgiven are two names for the same thing. The important thing is that a discord has been resolved.
C. S. LewisRead
I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God - it changes me.
C. S. LewisRead
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
C. S. LewisRead
Similar quotes
Ender understood more than she said. Manipulation of gravity was one thing; deception by the officers was another; but the most important message was this: the adults are the enemy, not the other armies. They do not tell us the truth.
Orson Scott CardRead
I have tried in my way to be free.
Leonard CohenRead
The welfare of the people in particular has always been the alibi of tyrants.
Albert CamusRead
The man who is seriously convinced that he deserves hell is not likely to go there, while the man who believes that he is worthy of heaven will certainly never enter that blessed place.
Aiden Wilson TozerRead
Every creature is a word of God.
Meister EckhartRead
Give us, O God, the vision which can see Your love in the world in spite of human failure. Give us the faith to trust Your goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness. Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts. And show us what each one of us can do to set forward the coming of the day of universal peace.
Frank BormanRead