"Straight tribulation is easier to bear than tribulation which advertises itself as pleasure.
The pain I feel now is the happiness I had before. That's the deal.
~ C. S. Lewis ~
Photo by Ákos Szabó
Photo by Ian Turnell
The pain I feel now is the happiness I had before. That's the deal.
More C. S. Lewis quotes
"As Venus within Eros does not really aim at pleasure, so Eros does not aim at happiness. We may think he does, but when he is brought to the test it p...
"Even if the two lovers are mature and experienced people who know that broken hearts heal in the end and can clearly foresee that, if they once steele...
"I wish I had never been born," she said. "What are we born for?" "For infinite happiness," said the Spirit. "You can step out into it at any moment...
"And this new air was so delicious, and all his old life seemed so far away, that he forgot for a moment about his bruises and his aching muscles.
"You would like to know how I behave when I am experiencing pain, not writing books about it. You need not guess, for I will tell you; I am a great cow...
"... the possibility of pain is inherent in the very existence of a world where souls can meet.
"[But] we inherit a whole system of desires which do not necessarily contribute God's will but which, after centuries of usurped autonomy steadfastly i...
"Some modern theologians have, quite rightly, protested against an excessively moralistic interpretation of Christianity. The Holiness of God is someth...
"Do we suppose that they can do Him any good or fear, like the chorus in MIlton, that human irreverence can bring about. His glory's diminution? A man ...
"The problem of reconciling human suffering with the existence of a God who loves is only insoluble so long as we attach a trivial meaning to the word ...
"It is mere nonsense to put pain among the discoveries of science. Lay down this book and reflect for five minutes on the fact that all the great relig...
"The Christian doctrine of suffering explains, I believe, a very curious fact about the world we live in. The settled happiness and security which we a...
"The first condition, then, of what is called a selfish love among men is lacking with God. He has no natural necessities, no passion, to compete with ...
"Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increas...