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Evolution Quote by C.S. Lewis

“Lead us, Evolution, lead us Up the future's endless stair; Chop us, change us, prod us, weed us. For stagnation is despair: Groping, guessing, yet progressing, Lead us nobody knows where. Wrong or justice, joy or sorrow, In the present what are they while there's always jam-tomorrow, While we…” quote by C.S. Lewis
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““Lead us, Evolution, lead us Up the future's endless stair; Chop us, change us, prod us, weed us. For stagnation is despair: Groping, guessing, yet progressing, Lead us nobody knows where. Wrong or justice, joy or sorrow, In the present what are they while there's always jam-tomorrow, While we tread the onward way? Never knowing where we're going, We can never go astray. To whatever variation Our posterity may turn Hairy, squashy, or crustacean, Bulbous-eyed or square of stern, Tusked or toothless, mild or ruthless, Towards that unknown god we yearn. Ask not if it's god or devil, Brethren, lest your words imply Static norms of good and evil (As in Plato) throned on high; Such scholastic, inelastic, Abstract yardsticks we deny. Far too long have sages vainly Glossed great Nature's simple text; He who runs can read it plainly, 'Goodness = what comes next.' By evolving, Life is solving All the questions we perplexed. Oh then! Value means survival- Value. If our progeny Spreads and spawns and licks each rival, That will prove its deity (Far from pleasant, by our present, Standards, though it may well be).””

C.S. Lewis

About This Quote

Source Poem: Unpublished manuscript, posthumously released 2023

Evolution drives humanity forward, demanding change and rejecting stagnation, while moral certainty is elusive

In simple terms: Progress requires change and questioning norms

Key Takeaway

Embrace change, question static morals

Themes

evolution progress morality uncertainty humanity

Mood

inspirational thought‑provoking

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • Scientific research
  • ethical debates
  • personal growth
  • creative writing

Key Concepts

Dialectical materialism existentialism ethical relativism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do we balance progress with moral consistency?
  • What role does uncertainty play in ethical decision making?
A Different Perspective

May imply that all moral frameworks are equally fluid, ignoring absolute values

4.2 out of 5 (10 ratings)

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