“Humans are amphibians – half spirit and half animal. As spirits they belong to the eternal world, but as animals they inhabit time.”
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
“Humans are amphibians – half spirit and half animal. As spirits they belong to the eternal world, but as animals they inhabit time.”
Explanation
In this quote, C. S. Lewis presents a profound reflection on the dual nature of humanity, emphasizing that humans are both spiritual beings and earthly creatures. On one hand, humans are connected to the eternal and spiritual realm, with a capacity for higher reasoning, moral judgment, and a longing for transcendence. On the other, they are also animals, bound by time, physicality, and mortality, subject to the limitations and impulses of the physical world. This duality suggests that humans exist in a tension between two realms: the spiritual, which is timeless and eternal, and the earthly, which is fleeting and temporary.
Lewis’s view draws heavily from Christian theology, where humans are seen as made in the image of God, with a unique spiritual dimension that connects them to the divine. However, in their physical form, humans are also part of the natural world, subject to its laws and limitations. Historically, this duality reflects Lewis’s own struggles with his understanding of human nature, especially after his conversion to Christianity. He often grappled with the balance between faith and reason, spiritual longing and earthly duties, which he believed were both integral to the human experience.
In the modern context, this quote speaks to the complexity of human existence, particularly in an age where science and spirituality often seem at odds. In an era of technological advancement, materialism, and secularism, Lewis’s words serve as a reminder that humans are not just products of the physical world but are also called to transcendence and meaning. The balance between the spiritual and the material is something we must navigate daily, recognizing that our spiritual aspirations must coexist with our earthly responsibilities. This tension invites a deeper exploration of what it means to live fully in both the temporal and eternal spheres.
