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
She's the sort of woman who lives for others - you can tell the others by their hunted expression.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights how some individuals sacrifice their own needs for the sake of others, often leaving those around them feeling burdened or pressured.
C. S. Lewis captures the essence of selflessness in individuals who dedicate themselves to the service of others. However, this devotion can create an unbalanced dynamic where those being served may feel trapped, as if they are constantly under scrutiny or obligation. The 'hunted expression' suggests a sense of distress among those who may feel suffocated by the expectations imposed upon them by such selfless individuals.
Themes
SelflessnessRelationshipsServiceSacrificeBurden
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the challenges of selfless leadership.
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.
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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
C. S. LewisRead
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