“What I call my ‘self’ now is hardly a person at all. It’s mainly a meeting place for various natural forces, desires, and fears, etcetera, some of which come from my ancestors, and some from my education, some perhaps from devils. The self you were really intended to be is something that lives not from nature but from God.”
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
table of contents
Quote
“What I call my ‘self’ now is hardly a person at all. It’s mainly a meeting place for various natural forces, desires, and fears, etcetera, some of which come from my ancestors, and some from my education, some perhaps from devils. The self you were really intended to be is something that lives not from nature but from God.”
Explanation
In this quote, C. S. Lewis reflects on the complex and fragmented nature of human identity, suggesting that what we often think of as our “self” is not a true or coherent person, but rather a collection of inherited influences, natural impulses, and external forces. These forces—ranging from ancestral traits and societal conditioning to personal fears and desires—combine to form a surface-level identity that can seem disconnected from any deeper, more authentic self. Lewis emphasizes that the true self we were meant to embody is not shaped by nature or external influences, but by God. This “true self” is one that transcends biological instincts and social programming, and instead lives in alignment with God’s purpose for us.
Historically, Lewis was influenced by both his Christian faith and his philosophical understanding of human nature. As a Christian, he believed that the fallen human condition caused people to become disconnected from their true spiritual selves, which were originally intended to live in communion with God. In Lewis’s view, the self we experience on earth is often a distorted version of what God intended—shaped by sin, cultural expectations, and personal limitations. Through faith and spiritual transformation, the true self, which is guided by God’s will, can emerge. This idea is central to much of Lewis’s work, including his reflections on the need for moral and spiritual redemption.
In the modern context, this quote speaks to the struggle for authenticity in a world filled with external pressures—such as societal expectations, family legacies, and even media influence—that shape who we think we are. In today’s world, where many are searching for identity and purpose, Lewis reminds us that true identity is found not in conforming to external standards or impulses, but in discovering and embracing the divine calling that comes from being created by God. It challenges individuals to move beyond surface-level identities and to cultivate a deeper, spiritual understanding of who they are meant to be, rooted in a relationship with God.
