We are, not metaphorically but in very truth, a Divine work of art, something that God is making, and therefore something with which He will not be satisfied until it has a certain character. Here again we come up against what I have called the “intolerable compliment.” Over a sketch made idly to amuse a child, an artist may not take much trouble: he may be content to let it go even though it is not exactly as he meant it to be. But over the great picture of his life–the work which he loves, though in a different fashion, as intensely as a man loves a woman or a mother a child–he will take endless trouble–and would doubtless, thereby give endless trouble to the picture if it were sentient. One can imagine a sentient picture, after being rubbed and scraped and re-commenced for the tenth time, wishing that it were only a thumb-nail sketch whose making was over in a minute. In the same way, it is natural for us to wish that God had designed for us a less glorious and less arduous destiny; but then we are wishing not for more love but for less.C.s. Lewis
About This Quote
What a horrible thing to say. The reason that any of us wish that our lives were not as difficult as they are is because we don't want it to be harder than it is. There is a way in which we can make it less hard, and yet we often do not do so, and the result is that we have an experience which is even harder than it would otherwise have been. We may think of what might happen if we were to stop struggling and just sit back and enjoy life: we think of the peace and the happiness and the satisfactions which come with that attitude.
We may think of all the people who would be satisfied with their lot, and we may envy them. We may even believe that life would be easier for us if we were to behave in such a way. But it would not be easier: for many things would remain as hard as ever, and some things might be harder than ever. Our great difficulty arises from our thinking of what would happen if we stopped struggling: there is no such thing as stopping struggling, except in the sense that there is no such thing as stopping breathing: nothing could prevent us from struggling (and therefore enjoying life) except our own will.
So long as we maintain control over our wills, we shall always be engaged in struggle; but if we can become aware of our own wills, then we shall already be engaged in struggle, and shall enjoy it more fully than ever before. If only it were possible for us to accept this truth!
Source: The Problem Of Pain
Some Similar Quotes
- I think you still love me, but we can’t escape the fact that I’m not enough for you. I knew this was going to happen. So I’m not blaming you for falling in love with another woman. I’m not angry, either. I should be, but...
- If pain must come, may it come quickly. Because I have a life to live, and I need to live it in the best way possible. If he has to make a choice, may he make it now. Then I will either wait for him...
- The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too.
- Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.
- One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.
More Quotes By C.s. Lewis
- To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with...
- Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.
- I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia.
- The great thing to remember is that though our feelings come and go God's love for us does not.
- If you love deeply, you're going to get hurt badly. But it's still worth it.