Tag: The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis

Daily Lewis – Fact / Quote / Quiz: May 28th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

Lewis wrote to Sister Penelope today (5/28) in 1945 stating that his book on Miracles was already finished (it came out 5/12/1947).

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“I quite agree with you about not using one’s job for propaganda: but once the pupil raises the question I think one has a free hand.”

Letter to Rhona Bodle 5/28/1949
(Published in The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume II)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

Complete the quote and name the source (4 words):
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscious, but shouts in our pains: it is His ______ to ______ a _____ _______ .”
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

Daily Lewis – Fact / Quote / Quiz: May 25th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

The Pilgrim’s Regress: An Allegorical Apology for Christianity, Reason and Romanticism was published 81 years ago today (5/25/33).

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“How God loves us: not because we are lovable but because He is love, not because He needs to receive but He delights to give.”

Letter to Genia Goelz 5/15/1952
(Published in The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

Complete the quote and name the source (4 words):
“On a great day the thing that makes it great may fill the_____ _____ _____ _____ .”
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

C.S. Lewis Said What? YES, He Really Did!

William OFlaherty Special Feature

I’ve been working on a short talk for the 2014 Taylor Colloquium (9th Frances White Ewbank Colloquium on C.S. Lewis & Friends) about quotes falsely attributed to Lewis. Along the way I’ve come across some lesser known quotations that some might have a difficult time believing he DID say. While a collection of quotes of this nature could contain a variety of categories, I’ve chosen to share sayings that are generally humorous (however, some may be more ironic, than funny).

“A good toe-nail is not an unsuccessful attempt at a brain: and if it were conscious it wd. delight in being simply a good toe-nail.”

(Letter to Hugh Kilmer from April 5, 1961 in The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume 3)

“If you think you are a poached egg, when you are looking for a piece of toast to suit you, you may be sane, but if you think you are God, there is no chance for you.”

(Essay – What Are We to Make of Jesus Christ? in God in the Dock)

Daily Lewis – Fact / Quote / Quiz: May 15th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

Charles Williams, a close friend of Lewis, died on this day (5/15) in 1945. He was the author of Descent into Hell and other works.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“Yes, pride is a perpetual nagging temptation. Keep on knocking it on the head but don’t be too worried about it. As long as one knows one is proud one is safe from the worst form of pride.”

Letter to Genia Goelz 5/15/1952
(Published in The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

Who does Aslan say the following to and which book does he say it in? “There is no other stream.”
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

Daily Lewis – Fact / Quote / Quiz: May 10th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

Yesterday (5/9) in 1941 the second Screwtape Letter premiered in The Guardian before being available in the famous book.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“You don’t see Nature till you believe in the Supernatural: don’t get the full, hot, salty tang of her except by contrast with the pure water from beyond the world. Those who mistake Nature for the All are just those who can never realise her as a particular creature with her own flamed, terrible, beautiful individuality.”

Letter to Dom Bede Griffiths OSB on 5/10/1945
(Published in The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume II)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

What article by Lewis that had “self” in the title was published some year this month?
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

Daily Lewis – Fact / Quote / Quiz: May 8th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

Lewis was interviewed in May 1963 by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Published later that year and it is in God in the Dock.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“The process of living seems to consist in coming to realise truths so ancient and simple that, if stated, they sound like barren platitudes. They cannot sound otherwise to those who have not had the relevant experience.”

Letter to Dom Bede Griffiths OSB on 5/8/1939
(Published in The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume II)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

What Narnia book was published this month in what year?
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

Daily Lewis – Fact / Quote / Quiz: May 4th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

The first paperback edition of Lewis’s spiritual autobiography, Surprised by Joy was published today (5/4) in 1959.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“Yes— it is sometimes hard to obey St. Paul’s “Rejoice.” We must try to take life moment by moment. The actual present is usually pretty tolerable, I think, if only we refrain from adding to its burden that of the past and the future.”

Letter to Mary Willis Shelburne on 5/4/1962
(Published in The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

Complete the quote and name the source (2 words):
“Eros will have naked bodies; Friendship _____ _____ .”
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

Daily Lewis – Fact / Quote / Quiz: May 1st

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

The first of The Screwtape Letters debuted this month (May 2nd) in 1941 when it appeared in The Guardian (a weekly newspaper).

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us: we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.”

Letter to Father Peter Bide on 4/29/1959
(Published in The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

Who was the first of the Pevensie children to visit Narnia?
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

Fact / Quote / Quiz: April 8th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

On this date (4/8) in 1947 the first U.S. edition (a hardback) of The Abolition of Man was published.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“Who said I disliked women? I never liked or disliked any generalisation.”

Letter to Margaret Fuller on 4/8/1948
(Published in The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume II)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

This month one of the three books that became a part of Mere Christianity was published; what was it?
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

Fact / Quote / Quiz: March 25th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

Today (3/25) in 1987 the US edition of Present Concerns, a collection of eighteen essays, became available.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“Symbolism exists precisely for the purpose of conveying to the imagination what the intellect is not ready for.”

Letter to Sister Penelope CSMV on 3/25/1943
(Published in The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume II)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

The first book ever published by Lewis was this month. What and when was it?
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)