Charity Quote by C.S. Lewis
““God, who needs nothing, loves into existence wholly superfluous creatures in order that He may love and perfect them. He creates the universe, already foreseeing - or should we say "seeing"? there are no tenses in God - the buzzing cloud of flies about the cross, the flayed back pressed against the uneven stake, the nails driven through the mesial nerves, the repeated incipient suffocation as the body droops, the repeated torture of back and arms as it is time after time, for breath's sake, hitched up. If I may dare the biological image, God is a "host" who deliberately creates His own parasites; causes us to be that we may exploit and "take advantage of" Him. Herein is love. This is the diagram of Love Himself, the inventor of all loves.””
About This Quote
God, who is self‑sufficient, creates dependent beings to love and perfect them; love involves a paradox of dependence and exploitation that reveals divine love.
In simple terms: God creates dependent creatures to love and perfect them.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the paradox of dependence in love.
Themes
theology
philosophy
love
creation
paradox
Mood
wonderful
introspective
Type
theological
poetic
When to use this quote
- spiritual contemplation
- artistic expression
- theological study
Key Concepts
metaphysics
Practical Applications
- reflect on divine love
- explore dependence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does dependence shape love?
- What does “exploiting God” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Complex metaphor may obscure meaning.
