--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is hardly complimentary to God that we…" description: "\"It is hardly complimentary to God that we should choose him as an alternative to hell.\" — C. S. Lewis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e11/c-s-lewis-2-132_alternatives_it-is-hardly-complimentary-to-god-that-w_2983344.png" --- # It is hardly complimentary to God that we should choose… ![“It is hardly complimentary to God that we should choose him as an alternative to hell.” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e11/c-s-lewis-2-132_alternatives_it-is-hardly-complimentary-to-god-that-w_2983344.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e11/c-s-lewis-2-132_alternatives_it-is-hardly-complimentary-to-god-that-w_2983344.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e11/c-s-lewis-2-132_alternatives_it-is-hardly-complimentary-to-god-that-w_2983344.png) > “It is hardly complimentary to God that we should choose him as an alternative to hell.” [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing God as an alternative to hell is not a compliment; it implies a negative comparison. **In simple terms:** Equating God with hell is disrespectful. Key Takeaway Respect divine concepts without negative analogies. Themes theology respect language Mood thoughtful critical Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - ethical debate - personal belief Key Concepts comparative religion philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape our view of the divine? - Can negative comparisons ever be constructive? A Different Perspective Some may view the statement as provocative rather than disrespectful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alternative Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternative-hell-4650235/) [Alternatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternatives/) [Complimentary God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complimentary-god-4650236/) [God Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-choose/) [Hardly Complimentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardly-complimentary-4650237/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [God spoke to Balaam through his ass. I believe God still speaks through asses today. So if God should choose to speak through you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/god-spoke-to-balaam-through-his-ass-i-believe-god-still-speaks/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [How odd Of God To choose The Jews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-norman-ewer/how-odd-of-god-to-choose-the-jews/) [William Norman Ewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-norman-ewer/) > [“Our decision every day must be to live a righteous life—not in our own strength, but by the enablement of the Holy Spirit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stormie-omartian/our-decision-every-day-must-be-to-live-a-righteous-life-not-in-our/) [Stormie Omartian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stormie-omartian/) > [Everything in this life passes away — only God remains, only He is worth struggling towards. We have a choice: to follow the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seraphim-rose/everything-in-this-life-passes-away-only-god-remains-only-he-is-worth/) [Seraphim Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seraphim-rose/) > [Surely you're not saying that God had to choose between long life and intelligence for human beings! It's there in your own Bible, Carlotta.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/surely-you-re-not-saying-that-god-had-to-choose-between-long-life-and/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Once u are in this world ull have tasks that u need to complete so jus focus on whatever God choose u to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelice-campbell/once-u-are-in-this-world-ull-have-tasks-that-u-need-to-complete-so/) [Shelice Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelice-campbell/) > [To keep it simple, why did God choose me? Because He felt like it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-linne/to-keep-it-simple-why-did-god-choose-me-because-he-felt-like-it/) [Shai Linne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-linne/) > [“I Choose Love... No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-choose-love-no-occasion-justifies-hatred-no-injustice-warrants/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“I have no control over some of the things that happen in my life, but with the help of God I can now choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alcoholics-anonymous/i-have-no-control-over-some-of-the-things-that-happen-in-my-life-but/) [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alcoholics-anonymous/) > [Deliver thunder, God If you choose not to talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/deliver-thunder-god-if-you-choose-not-to-talk/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [When God gets ready to shake America, He may not take the Ph.D. and the D.D. God may choose a country boy ... God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/when-god-gets-ready-to-shake-america-he-may-not-take-the-ph-d-and-the/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The answer to our cry which God gave in Jesus infinitely transcends our expectations, achieving a solidarity which cannot be human alone, but divine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-answer-to-our-cry-which-god-gave-in-jesus-infinitely-transcends/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“I have no guarantee that God will choose to heal Ann, but I know he wants me to pray to that end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-howard-joslin/i-have-no-guarantee-that-god-will-choose-to-heal-ann-but-i-know-he/) [K. Howard Joslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-howard-joslin/) > [Smiles, tears, of all my life! - and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/smiles-tears-of-all-my-life-and-if-god-choose-i-shall-but-love-thee/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [I am pleased as punch no longer to believe in a god who declares reason a sin, who will not choose many noble and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-hurmence-green/i-am-pleased-as-punch-no-longer-to-believe-in-a-god-who-declares/) [Ruth Hurmence Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-hurmence-green/) ## More by C. S. Lewis > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/either-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-or-a-madman-or-worse-but-his-being/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [To every soul, God will look like its first love because He IS its first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/to-every-soul-god-will-look-like-its-first-love-because-he-is-its/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Don't you understand anything? Isn't it absolutely essential to keep a fierce Left and a fierce Right, both on their toes and each terrified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/don-t-you-understand-anything-isn-t-it-absolutely-essential-to-keep-a/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Really great moral teachers never do introduce new moralities: it is quacks and cranks who do that. As”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/really-great-moral-teachers-never-do-introduce-new-moralities-it-is/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“When He died in the Wounded World He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/when-he-died-in-the-wounded-world-he-died-not-for-men-but-for-each/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job...And I'm prepared to say on that basis if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-i-am-in-private-life-is-a-literary-critic-and-historian-that-s-my/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [If a man is going to write on chemistry, he learns chemistry. The same is true of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-a-man-is-going-to-write-on-chemistry-he-learns-chemistry-the-same/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-first-fact-in-the-history-of-christendom-is-a-number-of-people/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I#pray because the need flows out of me all the time-walking and sleeping. It does not change # God - it changes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-the-need-flows-out-of-me-all-the-time-walking-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Are the gods not just?' 'Oh no, child. What would become us us if they were?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/are-the-gods-not-just-oh-no-child-what-would-become-us-us-if-they-were/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Love is more than an emotion, it is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/love-is-more-than-an-emotion-it-is-a-decision/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Ink is the great cure for all human ills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/ink-is-the-great-cure-for-all-human-ills/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-man-may-have-to-die-for-our-country-but-no-man-must-in-any/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [War creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/war-creates-no-absolutely-new-situation-it-simply-aggravates-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Explore all 1,190 C. S. Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More Alternatives quotes > [I am very sad that some designers are still using real fur when the fake alternatives are so effective and so easily obtainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twiggy/i-am-very-sad-that-some-designers-are-still-using-real-fur-when-the/) [Twiggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twiggy/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [I strongly reject any conceptual scheme that places our options on a line, and holds that the only alternative to a pair of extreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/i-strongly-reject-any-conceptual-scheme-that-places-our-options-on-a/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [Conventional agriculture has never succeeded in feeding the world, and it's never produced anything good to eat. For the future, we need to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barber/conventional-agriculture-has-never-succeeded-in-feeding-the-world-and/) [Dan Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barber/) > [ \[When asked how it felt to be a female prime minister:\] I don't know: I've never experienced the alternative. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/when-asked-how-it-felt-to-be-a-female-prime-minister-i-don-t-know-i/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [If one could have a wish, or an alternative life, I would've liked to have been John Lennon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-oldman/if-one-could-have-a-wish-or-an-alternative-life-i-would-ve-liked-to/) [Gary Oldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-oldman/) > [THE REAL PURPOSE OF HOLOCAUST REVISIONISM IS TO MAKE NATIONAL SOCIALISM AN ACCEPTABLE POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE AGAIN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-covington/the-real-purpose-of-holocaust-revisionism-is-to-make-national/) [Harold Covington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-covington/) > [Men since the beginning of time have sought peace...military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations, all in turn have failed, leaving the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/men-since-the-beginning-of-time-have-sought-peace-military-alliances/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. The rigidity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Maximise the alternative forms in which a user might receive a service, and the alternative sources of supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-chipp/maximise-the-alternative-forms-in-which-a-user-might-receive-a/) [Don Chipp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-chipp/) > [In the last few years, the very idea of telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is dredged up only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-musto/in-the-last-few-years-the-very-idea-of-telling-the-truth-the-whole/) [Michael Musto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-musto/) > [Altermodern is an in-progress redefinition of modernity in the era of globalisation, stressing the experience of wandering in time, space and mediums. The term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-bourriaud/altermodern-is-an-in-progress-redefinition-of-modernity-in-the-era-of/) [Nicolas Bourriaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-bourriaud/) > [If the system exhibits a structure which can be represented by a mathematical equivalent, called a mathematical model, and if the objective can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-dantzig/if-the-system-exhibits-a-structure-which-can-be-represented-by-a/) [George Dantzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-dantzig/) > [We must commit ourselves to an 'all of the above' energy approach, with a major focus on increasing domestic production and expanding alternatives fuels,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-roskam/we-must-commit-ourselves-to-an-all-of-the-above-energy-approach-with/) [Peter Roskam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-roskam/) [Browse all 1,463 Alternatives quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternatives/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is hardly complimentary to God that we should choose him as an alternative to hell.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C. S. Lewis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/it-is-hardly-complimentary-to-god-that-we-should-choose-him-as-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alternatives" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/it-is-hardly-complimentary-to-god-that-we-should-choose-him-as-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e11/c-s-lewis-2-132_alternatives_it-is-hardly-complimentary-to-god-that-w_2983344.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e11/c-s-lewis-2-132_alternatives_it-is-hardly-complimentary-to-god-that-w_2983344.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e11/c-s-lewis-2-132_alternatives_it-is-hardly-complimentary-to-god-that-w_2983344.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is hardly complimentary to God that we should choose him as an alternative to hell.” — C. S. Lewis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "C. S. Lewis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is hardly complimentary to God...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/it-is-hardly-complimentary-to-god-that-we-should-choose-him-as-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/it-is-hardly-complimentary-to-god-that-we-should-choose-him-as-an/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```