Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of. An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
Mere Christianity, Book 3 “Christian Behavior,” ch. 7 “Forgiveness” (1952)
(Source)
To excuse what can really produce good excuses is not Christian charity; it is only fairness. To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
“On Forgiveness”
A woman means by Unselfishness chiefly taking trouble for others; a man means not giving trouble to others.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The Screwtape Letters, Letter XXVI
Indeed, in so far as things unseen are manifested by the things seen, one might from one point of view call the whole material universe an allegory.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
Letters of C.S. Lewis (10 Dec. 1956)
We do not know the play. We do not even know whether we are in Act I or Act V. We do not know who are the major and who are the minor characters. The Author knows. … But we, never seeing the play from the outside, … cannot tell at what moment the end ought to come. That it will come when it ought, we may be sure. … That it has a meaning we may be sure, but we cannot see it. When it is over, we may be told. We are led to expect that the Author will have something to say to each of us who has played. The playing it well is what matters infinitely.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
“The World’s Last Night”
To love involves trusting the beloved beyond the evidence, even against much evidence. No man is our friend who believes in our good intentions only when they are proved. No man is our friend who will not be very slow to accept evidence against them. Such confidence, between one man and another, is in fact almost universally praised as a moral beauty, not blamed as a logical error.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The World’s Last Night, “On Obstinacy in Belief” (1955)
Whenever you are fed up with life, start writing: ink is the great cure for all human ills, as I have found out long ago.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The Letters of C.S. Lewis to Arthur Greeves (30 May 1916)
My own idea, for what it is worth, is that all sadness which is not now either arising from the repentance of a concrete sin and hastening towards concrete amendment or restitution, or else arising from pity and hastening towards active assistance, is simply bad.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
(Attributed)
Perfect love, we know, casteth out fear. But so do several other things
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The World’s Last Night and Other Essays, “The World’s Last Night” (1952)
Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
(Attributed)
Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
(Attributed)
Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods. Certainly to me it is the chief happiness of life. If I had to give a piece of advice to a young man about a place to live, I think I should say, “Sacrifice almost everything to live where you can be near your friends.” I know I am very fortunate in that respect.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The Letters of C.S. Lewis to Arthur Greeves (29 Dec. 1935)
We are so little reconciled to time that we are even astonished at it. “How he’s grown!” we exclaim, “How time flies!” as though the universal form of our experience were again and again a novelty. It is as strange as if a fish were repeatedly surprised at the wetness of water. And that would be strange indeed; unless of course the fish were destined to become, one day, a land animal.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
Reflections on the Psalms, ch. 12
Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies, The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
God in the Dock, “The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment” (1970)
Countries like ours are full of people who have all the material comforts they desire, yet lead lives of quiet (and at times noisy) desperation, understanding nothing but the fact that there is a hole inside them and that however much food and drink they pour into it, however many motorcars and television sets they stuff it with, however many well-balanced children and loyal friends they parade around the edges of it … it aches.
Bernard Levin (1928-2004) British journalist, critic, broadcaster, satirist
London Times (3 May 1968)
Remarking on a crowd of 90,000 at the Festival of Mind and Body, in London. See Thoreau.
Oh CHRISTONACRUTCHWITHCHEESEANDCRACKERSINBED!!! This old horse-apple again! Paranoid and arrogant victimhood again raises it thoughtless brow and vomits the rehashed meal of a thousand whines of sour grapes and pissing fantasies of mental pimphood. May the gods curse the damnable concept from the stinking spew of language until it is correctly termed.
Kelley Leverich (contemp.)
Belief-L (9 May 1999)
If you were perfect, you certainly wouldn’t be here. You would be someplace else with more class. And better service. And cheaper booze.
Kelley Leverich (contemp.)
Belief-L
I might be an anarchist, if it weren’t so much work and I weren’t so lazy.
Kelley Leverich (contemp.)
Belief-L (24 Jan 2001)
Most politicians are totally wusses with the ethical consideration of my cat begging for treats.
Kelley Leverich (contemp.)
Belief-L (31-Jan-2000)
Cultural bias makes more mistakes than sloppy handwriting.
Kelley Leverich (contemp.)
Belief-L (5 Jan 2001)
Statistics are like a bikini. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.
Aaron Levenstein (1910-1986) American academic
(Attributed)
You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t possibly live long enough to make them all yourself.
Sam Levenson (1911-1980) American humorist, author
(Attributed)
Based on what you know about him in history books, what do you think Abraham Lincoln would be doing if he were alive today?
1. Writing his memoirs of the Civil War.
2. Advising the President.
3. Desperately clawing at the inside of his coffin.David Letterman (b. 1947) American comic, talk show host
(Attributed)
USA Today has come out with a new survey
David Letterman (b. 1947) American comic, talk show host
(Attributed)
The game of life is not so much in holding a good hand as in playing a poor hand well.
(Other Authors and Sources)
H. T. Leslie
The angels break into song at the sight of the throne and all the songs fit together as part of a greater song, but people seem to have to search to find the right song to sing. It is a matter of finding our proper nature.
(Other Authors and Sources)
Arn Lesikar, Belief-L listserv (6 Jun 1998)
AUNT ALICIA: Bad table manners, my dear Gigi, have broken up more households than infidelity.
Alan Jay Lerner (1918-1986) American dramatist, lyricist, composer
Gigi (1958)
book by Colette
In the long-run, there’s just another short-run.
Abba Lerner (1903-1982) Romanian-American economist
(Attributed)
It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Italian artist, engineer, scientist, polymath
(Attributed)
I take no more notice of the wind that comes out of the mouths of critics than of the wind expelled from their backsides.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Italian artist, engineer, scientist, polymath
(Attributed)
Anyone who in discussion relies upon authority uses, not his understanding, but his memory.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Italian artist, engineer, scientist, polymath
Notebooks (c. 1500) [tr. Richter]
Alt. trans.: "The one who relies on authority during a discussion does not use his mind but his memory."
Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Italian artist, engineer, scientist, polymath
(Attributed)
The difference between pornography and erotica is lighting.
Gloria Leonard (1940-2014) American porn actress, publisher, activist [b. Gale Sandra Klinetsky]
(Attributed)
Why should freedom of speech and freedom of press be allowed? Why should a government which is doing what it believes to be right allow itself to be criticized? It would not allow opposition by lethal weapons. Ideas are much more fatal things than guns. Why should any man be allowed to buy a printing press and disseminate pernicious opinions calculated to embarrass the government?
Vladimir Ilich Lenin (1870-1924) Russian politician, revolutionary, political theorist [b. Vladimir Ilich Ulyamov]
(Attributed)
That’s the way things come clear. All of a sudden. And then you realize how obvious they’ve been all along.
Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007) American writer
The Arm of the Starfish (1965)
That’s something I’ve noticed about food: whenever there’s a crisis if you can get people to eating normally things get better.
Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007) American writer
(Attributed)
The Great God Science. It has failed us, because it was never meant to be a god, but only a few true scientists understand that.
Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007) American writer
Dragons in the Waters (1976)
It’s a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally. It gives us some sense of what is rock under our feet, and what is sand.
Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007) American writer
“The Summer of the Great-Grandmother”
I have sometimes felt closest to God when I have been furious.
Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007) American writer
(Attributed)
Inspiration usually comes during work, rather than before it.
Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007) American writer
(Attributed)
Who Moved My Cheese? calendar
Sin first is pleasing, then it grows easy, then delightful, then frequent, then habitual, then confirmed; then the man is impenitent, then he is obstinate, then he is resolved never to repent, and then he is ruined.
Robert Leighton (1611-1684) Scottish prelate, classical scholar
(Attributed)
Life is like a sewer — what you get out of it depends on what you put into it.
Tom Lehrer (b. 1928) American mathematician, satirist, songwriter
An Evening Wasted
It is a sobering thought that when Mozart was my age, he had been dead for two years.
Tom Lehrer (b. 1928) American mathematician, satirist, songwriter
That Was the Year That Was (1965)
Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat.
John F. Lehman, Jr. (b. 1942) U.S. Secretary of the Navy (1981-87), investment banker, writer
(Attributed)
VANDAMM: This matter is best disposed of from a great height, over water.
Ernest Lehman (1915-2005) American screenwriter
North by Northwest (1959)
(directed by Alfred Hitchcock)
Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone; it has to be made, like bread; re-made all the time, made new.
Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) American writer
The Lathe of Heaven
Murder is a crime. Describing murder is not.
Sex is not a crime. Describing sex is.Gershon Legman (1917-1999) American writer
Love & Death: A Study in Censorship (1949)
It is well that war is so terrible, or we should get too fond of it.
Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) American military leader
(Attributed)
Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through not matter what.
Harper Lee (1926-2016) American writer [Nellie Harper Lee]
To Kill a Mockingbird (1960)
“They’re certainly entitled to think that, and they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions,” said Atticus, “but before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”
Harper Lee (1926-2016) American writer [Nellie Harper Lee]
To Kill a Mockingbird, ch. 11 (1960)
(Source)
Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must be first overcome.
Jules W. Lederer (1917?-1999) American businessman
(Attributed)
SCOTTY: I bring you a warning. Every one of you listening to my voice. Tell the world. Tell this to everybody wherever they are: Watch the skies. Everywhere. Keep looking. Keep watching the skies.
Charles Lederer (1910-1976) American screenwriter
The Thing from Another World (1951)
screenplay with Christian Nyby
There is no wild beast so ferocious as Christians who differ concerning their faith.
William Lecky (1838-1903) Irish historian
(Attributed)
A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world.
John le Carré (1931-2020) English novelist, intelligence officer [pseud. of David Moore Cornwell]
(Attributed)
Having your book turned into a movie is like seeing your oxen turned into bouillon cubes.
John le Carré (1931-2020) English novelist, intelligence officer [pseud. of David Moore Cornwell]
(Attributed)