Emotional strength Quote by C.S. Lewis
““When all that says 'it is good' has been debunked, what says 'I want' remains. (...) The Conditioners, therefore, must come to be motivated simply by their own pleasure. (...) My point is that those who stand outside all judgements of value cannot have any ground for preferring one of their own impulses to another except the emotional strength of that impulse. (...) I am very doubtful myself whether the benevolent impulses, stripped of that preference and encouragement which the Tao teaches us to give them and left to their merely natural strength and frequency as psychological events, will have much influence. I am very doubtful whether history shows us one example of a man who, having stepped outside traditional morality and attained power, has used that power benevolently.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Condition of Moral Motivation", 1943
When external moral standards are questioned, personal desire becomes the sole guide, but without shared values it lacks direction and influence.
In simple terms: Personal desire alone may guide actions, yet lacks moral grounding.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate shared values beyond personal desire.
Themes
ethics
motivation
subjectivity
philosophy
power
Mood
thoughtful
serious
reflective
Type
philosophical
ethical
critical
When to use this quote
- making ethical decisions
- leadership
- political power
- personal reflection
- social movements
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
human nature
subjective desire
Questions to Reflect On
- What values should guide you beyond personal desire?
- How can society balance individual impulses with collective good?
A Different Perspective
Relying only on desire can justify harmful actions without accountability.
![“Not when tradition is built upon Truth". ~R. Alan Woods [2012]” quote by R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e00/r-alan-woods-1455_r-alan-woods_not-when-tradition-is-built-upon-truth-r_2628985.jpg)
![“And that's the type of thing I'm trying to speak out against the most, religion controlling what we see and what we do in our personal lives, even if you're not a part of that religion. Antichrist Superstar[the album] is a challenge really, to traditional morality and it's...to make people…” quote by Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/554/marilyn-manson-565_albums_and-that-s-the-type-of-thing-i-m-trying_324883.jpg)
