“And all the time — such is the tragi-comedy of our situation — we continue to clamor for those very qualities we are rendering impossible. You can hardly open a periodical without coming across the statement that what our civilization needs is more “drive”, or dynamism, or self-sacrifice, or “creativity”. In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.”
More from C. S. Lewis
“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art....It has no survival value; rather…”
“We need others physically, emotionally, intellectually; we need them if we are to know…”
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and…”
“Did you ever know, dear, how much you took away with you when you left?”