“We are not living in a world where all roads are radii of a circle and where all, if followed long enough, will therefore draw gradually nearer and finally meet at the centre: rather in a world where every road, after a few miles, forks into two, and each of those into two again, and at each fork, you must make a decision.”
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
“We are not living in a world where all roads are radii of a circle and where all, if followed long enough, will therefore draw gradually nearer and finally meet at the centre: rather in a world where every road, after a few miles, forks into two, and each of those into two again, and at each fork, you must make a decision.”
Explanation
In this thought-provoking quote, C. S. Lewis captures the complexity and uncertainty of life’s journey. Rather than envisioning life as a simple, linear path where all roads eventually converge toward a single truth or goal (as symbolized by a circle’s radii meeting at the center), Lewis suggests that life is full of choices and divergences. Each decision we make creates a new fork, leading us down a path that constantly demands reflection and re-evaluation. The image of roads splitting into two represents the ongoing process of decision-making, where each choice brings us closer to a particular outcome but simultaneously distances us from others.
This perspective is reflective of Lewis’s broader view on free will, moral responsibility, and human agency. Historically, his Christian worldview emphasizes the importance of making choices that align with goodness, virtue, and truth, but it acknowledges the complexity of navigating a world where moral decisions are often not clear-cut. This concept is especially relevant in the 20th century, a time of significant cultural, political, and existential upheaval, when individuals were faced with difficult decisions about personal and collective values. Lewis’s point serves as a reminder that life isn’t a smooth, preordained journey, but rather a series of moments requiring deliberate choice.
In modern times, this quote holds particular resonance in an era filled with overwhelming options and paths—whether in terms of career, relationships, or personal development. The rapid pace of technological change and societal shifts means that at each decision point, the potential consequences of our choices are often more complex and far-reaching than ever before. Lewis’s insight encourages us to embrace the responsibility of our decisions, acknowledging that life’s richness comes not from simply following a predetermined path, but from navigating the many choices we must make along the way.
