C. S. Lewis Quotes

The light of lights looks always on the motive, not the deed, the shadow of shadows on the deed alone.

Being in humaneness is good. If we select other goodness and thus are far apart from humaneness, how can we be the wise?

A man's intentions should be allowed in some respects to plead for his actions.

We call an intention good which is right in itself, but the action is good, not because it contains within it some good, but because it issues from a good intention.

What is the purpose of our might if we do not use it for good.

The virtues and vices are all put in motion by interest.

The virtue involved in helping those one loves is not 'selflessness' or 'sacrifice,' but integrity.

...guilt leads to righteous action, but rarely is it the right action.

Only the action that is moved by love for the good at hand has the hope of being responsible and generous.

It is better to will the good than to know the truth.

Philosophy is fundamentally about how you come to terms with living your life and trying to do it in a wise manner, and, for me, that means decently and compassionately and courageously and so forth.

Intention, good or bad, is not enough.

Truth, wisdom, love, seek reasons; malice only seeks causes.

Too great a preoccupation with motives (especially one's own motive) is liable to lead to too little concern for consequences.

The compass of compassion asks not what is good for me? but what is good? Not what is best for me but what is best. Not what is right for me but what is right. Not how much can we take? but How much ought we leave? and how much might we give? Not what is easy but what is worthy. Not what is practical but what is moral.

Good impulses are naught, unless they become good actions.

We are all ready to be savage in some cause. The difference between a good man and a bad one is the choice of the cause.

One must think like a hero to behave like a merely decent human being.

There's no such thing as altruism.

The measure of and self-congratulation for our own intelligence should have its basis in our moral behavior as well as our smarts.

If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.

It's motive alone which gives character to the actions of men.

Virtue is its own reward. We only invented concepts like heaven and hell to describe how we feel. We don't feel good doing bad and it's nice to help someone.

No one can be good for long if goodness is not in demand.

To do no evil is good, to intend none better.