“[Mortals] say of some temporal suffering, "No future bliss can make up for it," not knowing Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory. And of some sinful pleasure they say "Let me have but this and I'll take the consequences": little dreaming how damnation will spread back and back into their past and contaminate the pleasure of the sin. Both processes begin even before death.”
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?”