C.S. LEWIS

BEAUTIFUL QUOTES

“If the solar system was brought about by an accidental collision, then the appearance of organic life on this planet was also an accident... and if so, all our thought processes are mere accidents, the accidental by-product of the movement of atoms. But if their thoughts, yours and mine, are merely accidental by-products, why should we believe them to be true?”

This quote aligns perfectly with the famous pipe-ash illustration, pointing to the logical collapse of naturalism and affirming that reason and meaning cannot rise from blind matter, but must have a rational source.

“I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.”
Surprised by Joy

“You must picture me alone in that room... night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet.”
Surprised by Joy

“To even get near [humility], even for a moment, is like a drink of cold water to a man in a desert... He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”
Mere Christianity

“There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’”
The Great Divorce

“If the solar system was brought about by an accidental collision, then the appearance of organic life on this planet was also an accident... and if so, all our thought processes are mere accidents—the accidental by-product of the movement of atoms. But if their thoughts—yours and mine—are merely accidental by-products, why should we believe them to be true?”
The Case for Christianity

Oxford scholar, reluctant convert, and faithful herald of eternal realities, C.S. Lewis lived with a mind turned toward truth and a heart stirred by wonder. His pen gave shape to a kind of faith that embraced both clear thinking and deep longing. For many, he opened a door to belief that felt both real and radiant.

Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1898. From an early age, he was drawn to myths, poetry, and the beauty of other worlds. He loved stories and language, and he searched for meaning beyond what he could see. As a young man, he rejected the Christian faith and leaned into atheism, convinced that the world held no greater purpose. Yet even in his disbelief, he felt the ache of longing for something more. This longing, which he later described as joy, became a clue that pointed him toward something greater than himself. Over time, through the influence of friendships, books, and careful reflection, he came to believe again. In 1931, he embraced the truth of Christ and stepped into the faith he once dismissed.

C.S. Lewis’s Life and Work

Once he believed, Lewis became one of the most thoughtful and creative voices Christianity has known. His books brought theology into everyday language, yet they never lost their depth. Mere Christianity offered a simple and clear defence of faith. The Screwtape Letters exposed the schemes of the enemy with sharp insight. The Great Divorce gave a picture of eternal realities through powerful imagery. And The Chronicles of Narnia invited generations of readers into the heart of the gospel through talking animals, unexpected heroes, and the roar of a lion.

He served as a professor at Oxford and later at Cambridge. His teaching and writing reached minds and hearts across the world. Though he received much praise, he remained humble. He once said he never wrote for fame, but to make truth understandable. In all his work, he reminded readers that Christianity is not dull or cold. It is full of light and life. It calls both the mind and the imagination to awaken.

Later in life, Lewis married Joy Davidman, a writer and fellow seeker. Their time together was brief but deep. When she fell ill with cancer, Lewis walked through that valley with honesty and sorrow. He never tried to hide his pain. He wrote of it in A Grief Observed, where he wrestled with God in the midst of loss. Through that pain, his faith deepened and his understanding of love grew stronger.

C.S. Lewis died in 1963, on the same day as President Kennedy and Aldous Huxley. His passing was quiet, but his legacy has continued to grow. His words still speak with clarity and depth. It is the voice of God calling us home.

C.S. Lewis invites the world to a faith that thinks, imagines, and worships. He shows that the gospel reaches every part of us. Through him, many have discovered that Christianity does not shrink life. It enlarges it. It brings meaning to sorrow, beauty to longing, and joy that endures.

Books by C.S. Lewis (Major Works)

• Mere Christianity – His classic defense of the Christian faith, adapted from BBC radio talks during WWII.

• The Screwtape Letters – A witty, satirical exchange between a senior devil and a junior tempter, exposing human weakness and divine grace.

• The Great Divorce – An imaginative allegory about heaven and hell, exploring human choice and eternal destiny.

• Surprised by Joy – Lewis’s spiritual autobiography, tracing his journey from atheism to Christian faith.

• The Problem of Pain – Addressing why a good God allows suffering.

• Miracles – An exploration of the supernatural, the possibility of miracles, and the Incarnation as the greatest miracle of all.

• Reflections on the Psalms – Personal meditations on the Psalms, often fresh and unconventional.

• Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer – A reflective correspondence on prayer, intimacy with God, and the life of faith.

• The Four Loves – His study on affection, friendship, eros, and charity, weaving philosophy and theology.

• A Grief Observed – His raw reflections after the death of his wife, Joy Davidman.

• God in the Dock – Essays on theology, ethics, and the defense of Christianity.

• The Weight of Glory – A collection of essays and addresses, including his famous sermon on eternal glory and desire.

• The Abolition of Man – A prophetic warning about moral relativism and the loss of objective values.

• Christian Reflections – Posthumously published essays on Christian themes.

Fiction by C.S. Lewis

• The Chronicles of Narnia (7 volumes: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, The Last Battle) – Beloved children’s series rich with Christian imagery.

• The Space Trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength) – Science fiction exploring creation, temptation, and redemption.

• Till We Have Faces – His retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth, considered by Lewis himself to be his best work of fiction.

Biographies and Books About C.S. Lewis

• George Sayer, Jack: A Life of C.S. Lewis – An intimate biography by a student and friend of Lewis.

• Alister McGrath, C.S. Lewis: A Life – Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet – A recent, highly regarded biography with theological depth.

• Walter Hooper, C.S. Lewis: A Companion and Guide – Comprehensive overview of his life and works.

• Douglas Gresham, Lenten Lands – Memoir by Lewis’s stepson, offering insight into family life with Lewis.

• Alan Jacobs, The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis – Focuses on his creativity and storytelling.

• Humphrey Carpenter, The Inklings – Biography of the literary group including Lewis, Tolkien, and others.

• Colin Duriez, C.S. Lewis: A Biography of Friendship – Exploring his relationships and how they shaped him.

• David Downing, Into the Region of Awe: Mysticism in C.S. Lewis – A look at Lewis’s spirituality.

• Lyle Dorsett, Seeking the Secret Place: The Spiritual Formation of C.S. Lewis – Traces the deepening of Lewis’s faith.

Collections of Letters and Posthumous Works

• Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis (3 Volumes, edited by Walter Hooper) – Covering 1914–1963, showing his personal faith and friendships.

• Letters to an American Lady – Warm, pastoral letters to a correspondent in the U.S.

• Letters of C.S. Lewis to Children – Reveals his tender and thoughtful responses to young readers of Narnia.

• Of Other Worlds: Essays and Stories – Essays on writing and imaginative literature.

• On Stories – Essays on literature, myth, and storytelling.

Recommended Websites

• C.S. Lewis Foundation – Promotes his legacy and organizes conferences, retreats, and resources.

• C.S. Lewis Institute – Offers discipleship resources inspired by Lewis’s thought.

• C.S. Lewis Society of California – Articles, essays, and events dedicated to his work.

• Into the Wardrobe – A long-standing online resource on Lewis’s works.

• Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) – Digital access to several Lewis writings.