--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The complaint was the answer. To have…" description: "\"“The complaint was the answer. To have heard myself making it was to be answered. Lightly men talk of saying what they mean. Often when he was teaching..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/c-s-lewis-121_face-to-face_the-complaint-was-the-answer-to-have-hea_310441.jpg" --- # The complaint was the answer. To have heard myself making… ![“The complaint was the answer. To have heard myself making it was to be answered. Lightly men talk of saying what they mean. Often when he was teaching me to write in Greek the Fox would say, 'Child, to say the very thing you really mean, the whole of it, nothing more or less or other than what you…” quote by C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/c-s-lewis-121_face-to-face_the-complaint-was-the-answer-to-have-hea_310441.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/c-s-lewis-121_face-to-face_the-complaint-was-the-answer-to-have-hea_310441.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/c-s-lewis-121_face-to-face_the-complaint-was-the-answer-to-have-hea_310441.jpg) > ““The complaint was the answer. To have heard myself making it was to be answered. Lightly men talk of saying what they mean. Often when he was teaching me to write in Greek the Fox would say, 'Child, to say the very thing you really mean, the whole of it, nothing more or less or other than what you really mean; that's the whole art and joy of words.' A glib saying. When the time comes to you at which you will be forced at last to utter the speech which has lain at the center of your soul for years which you have, all that time, idiot-like, been saying over and over, you'll not talk about the joy of words. I saw well why the gods do not speak to us openly, nor let us answer. Till that word can be dug out of us, why should they hear the babble that we think we mean? How can they meet us face to face till we have faces?”” [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True expression requires confronting the deepest truth within, not just surface words. **In simple terms:** Speak your deepest truth. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity in speech. Themes truth communication self‑knowledge artistry Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - writing - public speaking - personal growth - creative work Key Concepts philosophy language self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What truth have you avoided saying? - How can you practice honest expression? A Different Perspective Finding deep truth can be painful and difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Face to face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-to-face/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I saw well why the gods do not speak to us openly, nor let us answer. Till that word can be dug out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/i-saw-well-why-the-gods-do-not-speak-to-us-openly-nor-let-us-answer/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Lightly men talk of saying what they mean. Often when he was teaching me to write in Greek the Fox would say, “Child, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/lightly-men-talk-of-saying-what-they-mean-often-when-he-was-teaching/) [C.S. 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