“The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, but why some do not.”
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
“The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, but why some do not.”
Explanation
In this thought-provoking quote, C. S. Lewis shifts the traditional question about suffering—why good people suffer—to a more unsettling one: why do some people escape suffering altogether? Lewis acknowledges that suffering is a common problem, especially for those who lead virtuous lives, but he suggests that the real mystery is why some people seem to live without significant hardship. This inversion of perspective challenges the typical approach to theodicy (the question of why a good God allows suffering) by focusing not just on the suffering of the righteous but on the absence of suffering in the lives of others, who may not necessarily live righteous lives. For Lewis, this question opens up a deeper reflection on the nature of grace, justice, and the purpose of suffering in the world.
Historically, this quote reflects Lewis’s Christian understanding of suffering as part of the fallen human condition and an opportunity for spiritual growth. In works like The Problem of Pain, Lewis addressed why suffering exists in a world created by a good and omnipotent God. However, in this quote, he moves away from the question of why good people suffer and asks us to examine the absence of suffering as a more profound puzzle. Lewis believed that suffering can be a means of spiritual purification and growth, and he was deeply concerned about the tendency to see suffering as only something negative, rather than something that might offer redemption or transformation. He suggests that the lives of those who experience less suffering might be more dangerous, as comfort can lead to spiritual complacency or detachment from deeper truths.
In the modern context, this quote invites reflection on the nature of privilege and suffering. In a world where some experience material prosperity or freedom from hardship, while others face ongoing pain and difficulty, the question of why some are spared is particularly relevant. Lewis’s challenge is to rethink the way we view suffering—not just as a problem to solve but as part of the mystery of life. The quote also suggests that those who experience less suffering should be aware of the potential for spiritual apathy or disconnection from deeper human experiences. Rather than focusing solely on the problem of why people suffer, we might consider how to respond to the blessings of ease with humility and purpose, recognizing that a life without suffering may also carry its own spiritual challenges.
