C.S. Lewis on Humility: A Timeless Classic

C.S. Lewis, a renowned author and theologian, left an indelible mark on modern literature with his works, including the Chronicles of Narnia series and Mere Christianity. One of his most notable sentiments regarding the virtue of humility is often misunderstood. While many mistakenly claim that Lewis wrote the famous quote, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less," this sentiment is actually an adaptation of Rick Warren's interpretation, which first appeared in The Purpose-Driven Life. In this article, we will delve into the essence of C.S. Lewis' powerful message on humility and its importance in our lives, without dismissing the contributions of its authentic author.

背景:
C.S. Lewis was born Charles Williams in 1898 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and became a scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford, before joining the Anglican Church. He is best known for his novels, which include the Chronicles of Narnia, a series of fantasy novels that have captured the imaginations of readers around the world. Mere Christianity, published in 1952, is a companion volume to the Chronicles and offers clarity on key Christian concepts. In this book,Lewis explores the nature of humility, a trait that has fascinated readers for centuries.

关于谦卑的误解:
One of the most prominent quotations often attributed to C.S.Lewis is the commonly recited "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less." This statement is often incorrectly said to be出自Lewis's own writing. Although it has been popularized by others, including Rick Warren and others in the Christian community, the idea of humility as Lewis understood it is significantly different.

Rick Warren's interpretation:
Rick Warren's interpretation of humility, as mentioned earlier, aligns more closely with C.S. Lewis' thoughts on the topic. Warren suggests that humility does not simply mean reducing one's self-regard but rather focusing on others. He writes, "Don't imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call 'humble' nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody."

实际上,这与CS Lewis的观点是一致的。"The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others"-CS Lewis in Mere Christianity. 这句话表明,谦卑的人不仅关注自己的需求和欲望,还强调对他人的关怀和服务。谦卑的行为应该体现在愿意为他人提供帮助,并努力使他们的生活变得更好。

谦卑的力量:
谦卑不仅仅是一种内在的品质,它还能够在我们的行为上体现出来。谦卑的人往往更容易获得友谊、尊重和爱戴。他们的胸怀和无私的服务精神能够赢得周围人的尊敬和信任。更重要的是,谦卑的态度能够帮助我们克服骄傲和自负,从而更接近上帝。

结论:
无论是C.S. Lewis还是有影响力的基督教领袖Richard Foster,他们都强调了谦卑在个人成长和精神发展中的重要性。《纽约时报》曾将雷德福博士的生活描述为充满谦卑的故事,并非偶然。谦卑的态度使他在困境中坚持不懈——正如他的传世之作《纳尼亚传奇》中的主人公尤纳尔敢于直面挑战,最终赢得胜利一样。在未来的日子里,我们也应该铭记这一智慧:谦卑并不是要我们忽视自己,而是要我们在关心自己与关心他人之间找到平衡,并将这份关爱传递给每一个需要帮助的生命。通过学习和实践谦卑的价值观,我们可以成为一个更加幸福、更有影响力的人,并在此过程中加深与上帝的联系。

关于作者:

C.S. Lewis(查尔斯·威廉姆斯)是20世纪英国著名的作家、学者以及天主教神父。他最为人所知的成就是创作了《纳尼亚传奇》系列奇幻小说,这套作品被认为是现代文学的经典之作,并赢得了全球读者的喜爱。此外,他的另一部重要著作《梅森基督教》也为信徒提供了深刻的基督教信仰指导,其影响深远。关于Richard Foster(理查德·福斯特),他是当代美国著名的作家和评论家,在他的多部作品中探讨了基督教社会的诸多问题,包括如何在现代社会中寻找宗教道德和伦理的标准,以及如何培养个人的德行等等。


最后,请注意,由于篇幅限制以及信息的准确性对于上述内容至关重要,
请谨慎引用本文中的任何信息。如有疑问或需要更深入的研究,建议查阅相关的权威资源。本回答仅为学习目的而提供,并不代表任何形式的商业意图或对任何个人或组织的正式推荐或保证。

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