--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are not meant to be perpetually…" description: "\"We are not meant to be perpetually solemn: We must play.\" — C. S. Lewis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/c-s-lewis-2-132_meant-to-be_we-are-not-meant-to-be-perpetually-solem_2648240.png" --- # We are not meant to be perpetually solemn: We must play. ![“We are not meant to be perpetually solemn: We must play.” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/c-s-lewis-2-132_meant-to-be_we-are-not-meant-to-be-perpetually-solem_2648240.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/c-s-lewis-2-132_meant-to-be_we-are-not-meant-to-be-perpetually-solem_2648240.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/c-s-lewis-2-132_meant-to-be_we-are-not-meant-to-be-perpetually-solem_2648240.png) > “We are not meant to be perpetually solemn: We must play.” [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. We should not be constantly serious; playfulness is essential for a balanced life. **In simple terms:** We need play, not perpetual seriousness. Key Takeaway Incorporate play into daily routine. Themes balance playfulness seriousness well‑being Mood lighthearted encouraging Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - taking breaks - engaging in games - creative hobbies Key Concepts psychology of joy life philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance work and play? - What benefits does play bring? A Different Perspective Too much play can be seen as frivolous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Meant Perpetually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meant-perpetually-2328273/) [Meant to be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meant-to-be/) [Perpetually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perpetually/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Solemn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solemn/) [Solemn Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solemn-play-2328271/) ## Related quotes > [Baseball is meant to be fun, and not all the solemn money-men in fur-collared greatcoats, not all the scruffy media cameramen and sour-faced reporters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/baseball-is-meant-to-be-fun-and-not-all-the-solemn-money-men-in-fur/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [Without sin, the universe is a Solemn Game: and there is no good game without rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/without-sin-the-universe-is-a-solemn-game-and-there-is-no-good-game/) [C. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I loved the study of psychology. I didn't love seeing patient after patient. I was perpetually overstimulated, busy decoding everything I took in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/i-loved-the-study-of-psychology-i-didn-t-love-seeing-patient-after/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [“Remember, the masterpiece of your life is perpetually in progress—each date a fresh stroke on your canvas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-on-rocheblance/remember-the-masterpiece-of-your-life-is-perpetually-in-progress-each/) [Léon RocheBlance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-on-rocheblance/) > [A nation is not conquered which is perpetually to be conquered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-nation-is-not-conquered-which-is-perpetually-to-be-conquered/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The very first essential for success is a perpetually constant and regular employment of violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-very-first-essential-for-success-is-a-perpetually-constant-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [I harp always on the 'idea' of life as I dwell perpetually on the existence of the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/i-harp-always-on-the-idea-of-life-as-i-dwell-perpetually-on-the/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [The future is neither ahead nor behind, on one side or another. Nor is it dark or light. It is contained within ourselves; its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/the-future-is-neither-ahead-nor-behind-on-one-side-or-another-nor-is/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [“If every day is first day of your life, maybe you are being perpetually infantile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trixie-koontz/if-every-day-is-first-day-of-your-life-maybe-you-are-being/) [Trixie Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trixie-koontz/) > [Shopify has been a perpetually underestimated company at every point of its history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-lutke/shopify-has-been-a-perpetually-underestimated-company-at-every-point/) [Tobias Lutke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-lutke/) > [Everything is perpetually becoming new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/everything-is-perpetually-becoming-new/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [We are like amoebae - perpetually changing partners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-dangoor/we-are-like-amoebae-perpetually-changing-partners/) [Robert D Dangoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-dangoor/) ## 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. 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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 Meant to be quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think that's the beauty of the current setup, is that Legends is meant to be a bit of a revolving door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-the-current-setup-is-that-legends-is/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [Marriage is meant to be more about your surrender than about your satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-means/marriage-is-meant-to-be-more-about-your-surrender-than-about-your/) [Scott Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-means/) > [Our sweetest experiences of affection are meant to be suggestions of that realm which is the home of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/our-sweetest-experiences-of-affection-are-meant-to-be-suggestions-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [For me, I start at the place that my characters are human. I start at the place that they are onions that are layered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-brock-akil/for-me-i-start-at-the-place-that-my-characters-are-human-i-start-at/) [Mara Brock Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-brock-akil/) > [Some things in this world just ain't meant to be, not in the times we want 'em to, and the heart has to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcbride/some-things-in-this-world-just-ain-t-meant-to-be-not-in-the-times-we/) [James McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcbride/) > [“Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out what it means. I've never heard of bonds sharing languages either, and yet...' I pull her even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-messenger/yeah-i-m-just-trying-to-figure-out-what-it-means-i-ve-never-heard-of/) [Shannon Messenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-messenger/) > [I feel some people are not meant to be together but that doesn't mean they are bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-agarwal/i-feel-some-people-are-not-meant-to-be-together-but-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Divya Agarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-agarwal/) > [I had no illusions about love anymore. It came, it went, it left casualties or it didn't. People weren't meant to be together forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-had-no-illusions-about-love-anymore-it-came-it-went-it-left/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [The young man knows that he is irretrievably lost. This is no town of cats, he finally realizes. It is the place where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-young-man-knows-that-he-is-irretrievably-lost-this-is-no-town-of/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Football is not a game meant to be played being nice to each other and all that, like 'Kumbaya.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-ramsey/football-is-not-a-game-meant-to-be-played-being-nice-to-each-other/) [Jalen Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-ramsey/) > [What would it have meant to be happy? 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