I found another interesting quote-which can relate to ideas of equality-and democracy. It also sheds light onto our own spiritual natures and a seemingly innate desire we humans have to honor something greater than ourselves. The question is, what is it that we are honoring? The quote is by the amazing C.S. Lewis:
“There, right in the midst of our lives, is that which satisfies the craving for inequality, and acts as a permanent reminder that medicine is not food. Hence a man’s reaction to monarchy is a kind of test. Monarchy can easily be ‘debunked;' but watch the faces, mark the accents of the debunkers. These are the men whose tap-root in Eden has been cut: whom no rumour of the polyphony, the dance, can reach - men to whom pebbles laid in a row are more beautiful than an arch. Yet even if they desire equality, they cannot reach it. Where men are forbidden to honour a king they honour millionaires, athletes or film-stars instead: even famous prostitutes or gangsters. For spiritual nature, like bodily nature, will be served; deny it food and it will gobble poison.”
Posts
3 comments:
There is a lot to this quote Z. Lewis is talking how democracies should not favor equality to the degree that they have nothing left of meaning to honor other then themselves, and then end up honoring stupid things when their natural, spiritual desires take effect. Directly before this quote, he talks about how the British monarchy is an example of the type of test he is referring to; a test of an individual’s ability to honor something worthwhile rather then the superficialities of pop culture. This doesn’t prove that one should necessarily honor the British monarchy or the Christian religion, only that one should honor something that is not equal, but greater then themselves, because it is in their nature to honor something anyway, and it might as well be something with high ideals. So this quote urges us to have high ideals. It’s a good quote, I like it. And I think there a lot of flaws in democracy of course, because it is ruled by the majorities appetites in the hope that these appetites will become more noble and directed towards more universally good values with experience; taking a lease out on human natures ability in large groups to progress without having to rely on an elite few; which is bound to create many problems, but also helps to extend the highest roles of society to a larger amount and variety of people.
I don’t know how to edit my old comment, so I'll just say what I was going to add to the end of it. That Democracy creates a larger demand on everyone to rise to the challenge of self rule in many different ways. Democracies are definitely not stagnant, but they are often ruled by several irrational appetites. Also, I don't know how skeptical of Democracies Lewis is, he was probably just criticizing the ideal of equality within them. He liked the preservation of the British monarchy as an addition to democracy.
Hey O. Yeah, I didnt mean to say that Lewis was only criticizing democracies here, or that he thinks people should only honor the british monarchy or christian religion. I agree with you, that he is saying that it is in our nature to want to honor something greater than ourselves-and that we can honor something great or we can honor something like movie stars-etc. ie where he talks about gobbling poison. I think he is saying have high ideals yes, but more he is also pointing out to us this aspect of our spiritual nature-and challenging us with what can happen as a result of denying it the proper type of nourishment. I would emphasize the last part. Maybe I am kind of just repeating what you said. At any rate I think we agree on the meaning of the quote. :) hehe...
Also, I agree with you democracy cannot exist in every situation. A democracy is only as good as those who govern themselves. For example did you know John Adams said that "our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people?" It makes sense, because as I said a democracy is only as good as its people. Im glad you liked the quote. I like it too. :)
Post a Comment