“A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.”
Image credits：Aronsyne,”Lewis, age 48″,CC BY-SA 4.0,C.S.-Lewis – C. S. Lewis – Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963
- Born in Ireland
- Writer, scholar
- Had a major influence on fantasy literature and religious thought through his many works, including the Chronicles of Narnia series and The Poetics of Christianity
Quote
“A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.”
Explanation
In this striking metaphor, C. S. Lewis highlights the infinite nature of God’s glory and the futility of human actions that attempt to deny or diminish it. He compares the refusal to worship God to a lunatic scribbling the word “darkness” on the walls of his cell, suggesting that no matter how vehemently or desperately someone denies or rejects God’s glory, it remains undiminished and unchanged. Just as the lunatic’s declaration of darkness cannot alter the existence of the sun, so a person’s refusal to acknowledge or worship God cannot diminish God’s inherent majesty, truth, or power. This quote serves as a reminder that God’s reality and glory are not dependent on human recognition or belief, but are constant and eternal, regardless of our actions or beliefs.
Historically, this perspective reflects Lewis’s Christian worldview, where God’s glory is ultimate and beyond human influence. Lewis, who was deeply committed to defending theism and Christianity, often wrote about the incompatibility of human limitations with the infinite nature of God. His use of a ludicrous metaphor serves to emphasize how humans, in their limited understanding, might attempt to diminish or deny God, but their efforts are ultimately as meaningless as a lunatic’s scribbling. For Lewis, God’s glory and authority are not contingent upon human worship; rather, worship is a response to God’s greatness, acknowledging what is already true, not creating or altering reality.
In the modern context, this quote serves as a powerful reminder to those who may question or reject the existence of God, particularly in a world that often promotes secularism or self-reliance. It challenges the idea that human disbelief or rejection can alter the nature of the divine. No matter how much we might try to ignore or discredit God’s glory, it remains untouched, much like the sun’s light continues to shine regardless of whether or not it is acknowledged. This metaphor invites believers to rest in the confidence that God’s glory is not dependent on human recognition and to embrace the privilege of worship as a response to the eternal truth of God’s existence and power.
