---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Scotch catechism says that man's…"
description: "\"The Scotch catechism says that man's chief end is 'to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.' But we shall then know that these are the same thing. Fully t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/c-s-lewis-2-132_catechism_the-scotch-catechism-says-that-man-s-chi_753724.png"
---

#  The Scotch catechism says that man's chief end is 'to…

![“The Scotch catechism says that man's chief end is 'to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.' But we shall then know that these are the same thing. Fully to enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/c-s-lewis-2-132_catechism_the-scotch-catechism-says-that-man-s-chi_753724.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/c-s-lewis-2-132_catechism_the-scotch-catechism-says-that-man-s-chi_753724.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/c-s-lewis-2-132_catechism_the-scotch-catechism-says-that-man-s-chi_753724.png)

> “The Scotch catechism says that man's chief end is 'to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.' But we shall then know that these are the same thing. Fully to enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.”

[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.

Glorifying God and enjoying Him are intertwined; true worship is joyful participation.

**In simple terms:** Worship and joy are the same.

Key Takeaway

Seek joy in devotion.

Themes

theology joy worship

Mood

contemplative hopeful

Type

philosophical spiritual

When to use this quote

- personal prayer
- church services
- daily gratitude

Key Concepts

Christian ethics spiritual fulfillment

Questions to Reflect On

- What does it mean to enjoy God?
- How can joy deepen worship?

A Different Perspective

Joy can be mistaken for self‑indulgence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Catechism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catechism/) [Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/)

## Related quotes

> [Man's true end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/man-s-true-end-is-to-glorify-god-and-to-enjoy-him-for-ever/)

[Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/)

> [“The great old catechism asks, “What is the chief end of man?” and answers, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-great-old-catechism-asks-what-is-the-chief-end-of-man-and-answers/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [“Question: What is the chief End of Man? Answer: Man's chief End is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/question-what-is-the-chief-end-of-man-answer-man-s-chief-end-is-to/)

[A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/)

> [What is the chief end of giving? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-bakke/what-is-the-chief-end-of-giving-to-glorify-god-and-enjoy-him-forever/)

[Dennis Bakke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-bakke/)

> [“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/westminster-shorter-catechism/the-chief-end-of-man-is-to-glorify-god-and-enjoy-him-forever/)

Westminster Shorter Catechism

> [This is what you are here for: to glorify God and enjoy Him thoroughly and forever, telling the universe how great God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/this-is-what-you-are-here-for-to-glorify-god-and-enjoy-him-thoroughly/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [“I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/i-think-we-delight-to-praise-what-we-enjoy-because-the-praise-not/)

[C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/)

> [In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/in-commanding-us-to-glorify-him-god-is-inviting-us-to-enjoy-him/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [The Word of God and the Spirit of God are enough for the people of God to enjoy and spread the worship of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/the-word-of-god-and-the-spirit-of-god-are-enough-for-the-people-of/)

[David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/)

> [The lives God gives to us, the awful things we can’t escape from. Sometimes I think that sort of God would enjoy making hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/the-lives-god-gives-to-us-the-awful-things-we-can-t-escape-from/)

[C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/)

> [“Augustine believed that even when you seem to be enjoying something else, God is the actual source of your joy. The thing you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-j-keller/augustine-believed-that-even-when-you-seem-to-be-enjoying-something/)

[Timothy J. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-j-keller/)

> [Wonderful life, even real god can't enjoy this enjoy the sleep with lovely dreams with twinkling starts above the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayanthi-aj/wonderful-life-even-real-god-can-t-enjoy-this-enjoy-the-sleep-with/)

[Jayanthi AJ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayanthi-aj/)

> [Life is a continuous blessing from God. Enjoy it to the fullest without looking back over your shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tshepo-koos-maluleke/life-is-a-continuous-blessing-from-god-enjoy-it-to-the-fullest/)

[Tshepo Koos Maluleke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tshepo-koos-maluleke/)

> [Man to God: Please Give Me Everything So That I Can Enjoy Life¦ God Smiled And Replied: I Have Given You LifeTo Enjoy Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/man-to-god-please-give-me-everything-so-that-i-can-enjoy-life-god/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [Human To GOD: 'Please Give Me EVERYTHING So That I Can Enjoy LIFE.' GOD Smiled And Replied: 'I Have Given You LIFE To Enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/human-to-god-please-give-me-everything-so-that-i-can-enjoy-life-god/)

Pacifiersucker

## 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 Catechism quotes

> [It is possible to believe in progress as a fact without believing in progress as an ethical principle; but in the catechism of many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-wiener/it-is-possible-to-believe-in-progress-as-a-fact-without-believing-in/)

[Norbert Wiener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-wiener/)

> [A catechism is simply a tool for teaching the fundamentals of the faith. Unlike a creed or confession, a catechism uses questions and answers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/a-catechism-is-simply-a-tool-for-teaching-the-fundamentals-of-the/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [We are narrative creatures, and we need narrative nourishment-nar rative catechisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/we-are-narrative-creatures-and-we-need-narrative-nourishment-nar/)

[N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/)

> [“Moreover, our certitudes were closely bound to a given set of symbols. Change the well defined Latin term for an undefined Greek one and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-houghton/moreover-our-certitudes-were-closely-bound-to-a-given-set-of-symbols/)

Bryan Houghton

> [If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him? The Catechism of the Catholic Church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/if-a-person-is-gay-and-seeks-god-and-has-good-will-who-am-i-to-judge/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/go-therefore-and-make-disciples-of-all-the-nations/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/the-gates-of-hell-shall-not-prevail-against-it/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [When, as a child, I first opened my eyes on a Sunday-morning, a feeling of dismal anicipation, which began at least on the Friday,culminated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/when-as-a-child-i-first-opened-my-eyes-on-a-sunday-morning-a-feeling/)

[Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/)

> [“This, therefore, is that christian comfort, spoken of in this question of the catechism, which is an only and solid comfort, both in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zacharias-ursinus/this-therefore-is-that-christian-comfort-spoken-of-in-this-question/)

Zacharias Ursinus

> [But, indeed, the science of logic and the whole framework of philosophical thought men have kept since the days of Plato and Aristotle, has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/but-indeed-the-science-of-logic-and-the-whole-framework-of/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [When women understand that governments and religions are human inventions; that Bibles, prayer-books, catechisms, and encyclical letters are all emanations from the brains of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/when-women-understand-that-governments-and-religions-are-human/)

[Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/)

> [“Faith, for me, isn't an argument, a catechism, a philosophical “proof.” It is instead a lens, a way of experiencing life, and a willingness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/faith-for-me-isn-t-an-argument-a-catechism-a-philosophical-proof-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Latin America can no longer tolerate being a haven for United States liberals who cannot make their point at home, an outlet for apostles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-illich/latin-america-can-no-longer-tolerate-being-a-haven-for-united-states/)

[Ivan Illich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-illich/)

> [Science corrects the old creeds, sweeps away, with every new perception, our infantile catechisms, and necessitates a faith commensurate with the grander orbits and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/science-corrects-the-old-creeds-sweeps-away-with-every-new-perception/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Before catechisms can instill a proper humility, small children know the truth that their own existence has caused the world to bloom into being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/before-catechisms-can-instill-a-proper-humility-small-children-know/)

[Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/)

[Browse all 45 Catechism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catechism/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The Scotch catechism says that man's chief end is 'to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.' But we shall then know that these are the same thing. Fully to enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "C. S. Lewis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-scotch-catechism-says-that-man-s-chief-end-is-to-glorify-god-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Catechism"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-scotch-catechism-says-that-man-s-chief-end-is-to-glorify-god-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/c-s-lewis-2-132_catechism_the-scotch-catechism-says-that-man-s-chi_753724.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/c-s-lewis-2-132_catechism_the-scotch-catechism-says-that-man-s-chi_753724.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/c-s-lewis-2-132_catechism_the-scotch-catechism-says-that-man-s-chi_753724.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The Scotch catechism says that man's chief end is 'to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.' But we shall then…” — 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": "The Scotch catechism says that man's...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-scotch-catechism-says-that-man-s-chief-end-is-to-glorify-god-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-scotch-catechism-says-that-man-s-chief-end-is-to-glorify-god-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
