“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
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
“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
Explanation
In this profound quote, C. S. Lewis explores the idea that deep human desires—those for lasting happiness, ultimate fulfillment, or perfect love—cannot be fully satisfied by anything in this world. He suggests that the longings we experience, which seem to be unattainable through any material or earthly means, point to the idea that we were created for something greater. If no earthly experience can meet these desires, the most logical conclusion is that they reflect a longing for another world—one that is eternal, spiritual, and divinely fulfilling. Lewis implies that these unfulfilled desires are a sign that human beings are not ultimately meant for life in this temporal, flawed world but are instead created for a deeper, more perfect existence in union with God.
Historically, Lewis’s view is deeply rooted in his Christian beliefs about human nature and the afterlife. He often argued that humans are not meant to find complete satisfaction in the physical world because their true home is in a relationship with God, which transcends the limitations of time and space. In books like Mere Christianity and The Weight of Glory, Lewis discusses how the human longing for heaven is a spiritual reality—a desire that points to the eternal joy and fulfillment that can only be found in God’s presence. For Lewis, these desires are part of the human soul’s inherent orientation toward the divine, and the discontentment people often feel with the world reflects the ultimate longing for God’s kingdom.
In the modern context, this quote speaks to the emptiness and unfulfilled desires many people experience, despite material wealth, success, or pleasure. In a world that often focuses on achieving happiness through external accomplishments or sensory experiences, Lewis’s words remind us that there may be a deeper, spiritual longing at the heart of human existence—one that cannot be satisfied by worldly things. This perspective invites people to consider the eternal and spiritual dimensions of life, encouraging a shift away from temporary satisfactions toward the pursuit of lasting peace, meaning, and connection with something greater than ourselves. It calls for an openness to the idea that human beings are created for a greater purpose, one that extends beyond the confines of this world and into the eternal realm.
