Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Killer Mike · 08-16-2005, 04:41 AM

"Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons then under omnipotent moral busy-bodies"

C.S. Lewis

Toto · 08-16-2005, 11:38 AM

This quote is all over the internet, but is it true?

Quote:

Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies, The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

The most complete attribution I have seen is "C.S. Lewis, In Freedom"

I know there are CS Lewis fans here - did CS Lewis ever write a book called "In Freedom"? I can't find it, and somehow the theme does not sound like CS Lewis.

I would kick this to another forum, but let's answer this question first.

penumbra · 08-16-2005, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

This quote is all over the internet, but is it true?

The most complete attribution I have seen is "C.S. Lewis, In Freedom"

I know there are CS Lewis fans here - did CS Lewis ever write a book called "In Freedom"? I can't find it, and somehow the theme does not sound like CS Lewis.

I would kick this to another forum, but let's answer this question first.

According to this, it's from "God in the Dock" - anybody got a copy?

http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/quotes/quote-l1.htm

Toto · 08-16-2005, 12:15 PM

Amazon has a copy searchable online God in the Dock, and it is in fact on page 292.

Lewis is arguing against a Humanitarian theory of punishment, that would treat crime as a disease. When one considers that homosexuality was a crime in Britain for most of his life, his words ring true.

Next question: since this has little to do with Biblical Criticism or History, and in fact argues against the Biblical theory of government, what forum should be its new home?

08-16-2005, 04:41 AM	#1
Killer Mike Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,033	Quote Of The Month [CS Lewis quote on Humanitarian Punishment] "Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons then under omnipotent moral busy-bodies" C.S. Lewis

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08-16-2005, 12:15 PM	#4
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	Amazon has a copy searchable online God in the Dock, and it is in fact on page 292. Lewis is arguing against a Humanitarian theory of punishment, that would treat crime as a disease. When one considers that homosexuality was a crime in Britain for most of his life, his words ring true. Next question: since this has little to do with Biblical Criticism or History, and in fact argues against the Biblical theory of government, what forum should be its new home?

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