Answers Quote by C. S. Lewis
“I can answer that only by hearsay, returned the Guide, for pain is a secret which he has shared with your race and not with mine; and you would find it as hard to explain suffering to me as I would find it to reveal to you the secrets of the Mountain people. But those who know best say this, that any liberal man would choose the pain of this desire, even for ever, rather than the peace of feeling it no longer; and that though the best thing is to have, the next best is to want, and the worst of all is not to want.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis, 1942
Pain is a hidden, shared secret that is hard to explain, yet desire for it can outweigh the relief of its absence, while wanting is better than not wanting at all.
In simple terms: Pain is secret and hard to explain; desire can be stronger than relief, and wanting is better than not wanting.
Key Takeaway
Accept desire’s power, but seek balance.
Themes
desire
pain
human nature
spiritual conflict
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- spiritual reflection
- relationships
- ethical decisions
Key Concepts
secret
suffering
wanting
choice
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance desire and contentment?
- What does wanting versus not wanting reveal about your values?
A Different Perspective
Desire can become obsessive, leading to suffering.
![“In my mother's time, [pain] was a secret burden, and women were admired for their ability to ignore, to be silent, to be selfless… Now we can speak it, and that's true healing, not a problem--to admit there is some constant pain.” quote by Terese Marie Mailhot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3ef/terese-marie-mailhot-281987_pain_in-my-mother-s-time-pain-was-a-secret-bu_1314864.jpg)
