More from Mr Narnia...

I quoted C. S. Lewis in a recent post, and I suspect I'll make a habit of it. There's no writer with whom I feel a greater affinity, or whom I respect more for his carefully-structured arguments, the clarity of his writing, and his unique ability to approach complex and challenging topics in a succinct, relaxed, and almost-conversational way. Like Democracy:

"I am a democrat because I believe in the Fall of Man. I think most people are democrats for the opposite reason. A great deal of democratic enthusiasm descends from the ideas of people like Rousseau, who believed in democracy because they thought mankind so wise and good that everyone deserved a share in the government. The danger of defending democracy on those grounds is that they're not true. And whenever their weakness is exposed, the people who prefer tyranny make capital out of the exposure. I find that they're not true without looking further than myself. I don't deserve a share in governing a hen-roost, much less a nation. Nor do most people - all the people who believe advertisements, and think in catchwords and spread rumours. The real reason for democracy is just the reverse. Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows. Aristotle said that some people were only fit to be slaves. I do not contradict him. But I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters." C.S.Lewis, "Equality", 1943

As much as I love Narnia, I think that Lewis' non-fiction is his most brilliant. But since I can't see them making a movie based on "Compelling Reason", "The Abolition of Man" or "Mere Christianity", I'll just have to make a habit of including a few of my favourite snippets every week or so.

Matt