C.S. Lewis Quotes
### Narnia Guide **Accueil** > [Home](#) --- #### **En bref** > [In brief](#) - **Aslan** is the great lion who created and rules Narnia. - **Reepicheep** is a valiant mouse who serves as a warrior and later as a captain in the royal navy of Cair Paravel. - **Mr Tumnus** is a faun who befriends Lucy Pevensie and helps her in her quest to save Narnia. - **Cair Paravel** is the royal capital of Narnia, where the Pevensie children rule as kings and queens. - **White Witch** is the evil ruler of Narnia who brings eternal winter and seeks to destroy Aslan. - **Turkish Delight** is a magical candy that the White Witch offers Edmund to manipulate him. - **Puddleglum** is a pessimistic but loyal Marsh-wiggle who accompanies Eustace and Jill on their quest in *The Silver Chair*. - **Digory Kirke** is one of the main protagonists in *The Magician’s Nephew*, who helps bring Aslan into Narnia. - **Polly Plummer** is Digory’s friend who accompanies him on his adventures in *The Magician’s Nephew*. - **Peter** is the eldest of the Pevensie children and becomes High King of Narnia. - **Susan** is the second eldest Pevensie child, known for her kindness and archery skills. - **Edmund** is one of the Pevensie children who betrays his siblings but later redeems himself. - **Lucy** is the youngest Pevensie child and the first to discover Narnia. - **Shift** is the deceitful ape in *The Last Battle* who manipulates Puzzle the donkey. - **Puzzle** is the gentle but naive donkey in *The Last Battle* who is tricked by Shift. --- #### **Le saviez-vous** > [Did you know](#) - **Aslan**’s name is Turkish and means "lion." - **Reepicheep**’s name translates to "brave mouse" in English. - **Mr Tumnus**’s full name is never revealed in the books. - **Cair Paravel** is located on the coast of the Eastern Ocean in Narnia. - **White Witch**’s real name is Jadis, but she is never called this in Narnia. - **Turkish Delight** was inspired by a real candy that C.S. Lewis enjoyed as a child. - **Puddleglum** is one of the few characters in Narnia who is not human, faun, or talking beast. - **Digory Kirke** and **Polly Plummer** are the only Pevensie children who do not rule at Cair Paravel. - **Peter**, **Susan**, **Edmund**, and **Lucy** are the four Pevensie children who become kings and queens of Narnia. - **Shift** and **Puzzle** are the main antagonists in *The Last Battle*, the final book of the Narnia series. --- #### **À l'écran** > [On screen](#) - **Aslan** is voiced by Liam Neeson in the *Chronicles of Narnia* film series. - **Reepicheep** appears in *Prince Caspian* and *The Voyage of the Dawn Treader*. - **Mr Tumnus** is played by James McAvoy in the movie adaptation of *The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe*. - **Cair Paravel** is depicted as a grand castle in the films. - **White Witch** is portrayed by Tilda Swinton in the *Chronicles of Narnia* movies. - **Turkish Delight** is shown as a magical, enchanted candy in the films. - **Puddleglum** is voiced by Tom Baker in the BBC radio adaptation of *The Silver Chair*. - **Digory Kirke** is played by Michael Madsen in the 2005 film *The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe*. - **Polly Plummer** is portrayed by Georgie Henley in the movie adaptation of *The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe*. - **Peter** is played by William Moseley in the *Chronicles of Narnia* film series. - **Susan** is portrayed by Anna Popplewell in the *Chronicles of Narnia* movies. - **Edmund** is played by Skandar Keynes in the *Chronicles of Narnia* film series. - **Lucy** is portrayed by Georgie Henley in the *Chronicles of Narnia* movies. - **Shift** and **Puzzle** are central to the plot of *The Last Battle* in both the books and films. --- #### **Son histoire** > [The story](#) - **Aslan** created Narnia by singing it into existence in *The Magician’s Nephew*. - **Reepicheep** sacrifices himself to save his friends in *The Voyage of the Dawn Treader*. - **Mr Tumnus** is nearly turned to stone by the White Witch before being saved by Aslan. - **Cair Paravel** is where the Pevensie children first enter Narnia in *The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe*. - **White Witch**’s reign of terror begins when she usurps the throne from the rightful ruler of Narnia. - **Turkish Delight** is enchanted to make whoever eats it crave more in *The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe*. - **Puddleglum**’s pessimism is a key trait that contrasts with the optimism of Eustace and Jill. - **Digory Kirke** and **Polly Plummer** witness the creation of Narnia and meet Aslan in *The Magician’s Nephew*. - **Peter**, **Susan**, **Edmund**, and **Lucy** are crowned kings and queens of Narnia at Cair Paravel. - **Shift** tricks **Puzzle** into dressing up as Aslan, leading to chaos in *The Last Battle*. --- #### **Pour aller plus loin** > [Going further](#) - Explore the deeper themes of **Aslan** as a Christ figure in the Narnia series. - Learn about the role of **Reepicheep** in the naval battles of Narnia. - Discover more about **Mr Tumnus**’s encounters with humans in Narnia. - Read about the history and significance of **Cair Paravel** in Narnia lore. - Understand the symbolism behind the **White Witch**’s eternal winter. - Find out how **Turkish Delight** fits into the White Witch’s plans for Narnia. - Research the origins of **Puddleglum** and his place in Narnian mythology. - Delve into the backstory of **Digory Kirke** and his adventures in *The Magician’s Nephew*. - Learn about the friendship between **Polly Plummer** and **Digory Kirke**. - Compare the portrayal of **Shift** and **Puzzle** in the books versus the films. --- #### **Anecdotes** > [Trivia](#) - **Aslan**’s name was almost changed to "Jupiter" in early drafts of *The Chronicles of Narnia*. - **Reepicheep** was originally going to be a cat in C.S. Lewis’s early versions of the story. - **Mr Tumnus**’s name is derived from the Latin word for "twig" or "branch." - **Cair Paravel** is inspired by the medieval legend of King Arthur and Camelot. - **White Witch** is sometimes mistakenly referred to as "The Ice Queen" in fan theories. - **Turkish Delight** is often cited as a favorite treat of Edmund Pevensie before he enters Narnia. - **Puddleglum**’s name is sometimes humorously misinterpreted as "puddle" + "glum." - **Digory Kirke**’s name is a play on the word "digest," reflecting his scholarly nature. - **Polly Plummer** was almost named "Peggy" in early drafts of *The Magician’s Nephew*. - **Shift** and **Puzzle**’s deception in *The Last Battle* is one of the most debated moments in the series. - **Aslan**’s roar is said to have been inspired by the sound of a real lion’s growl. - **Reepicheep**’s bravery is often compared to that of a knight in shining armor. - **Mr Tumnus**’s home is located in the woods near the Lantern Waste. - **Cair Paravel**’s architecture is based on medieval castles and fortresses.
Going further
- Short quotes with their exact source.
- Translations proposed by the site.
- Four false quotes exposed.
In Narnia
“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”
— Dedication of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (to Lucy Barfield), 1950
“Of course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
— Mr. Beaver, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, ch. 8
“Things never happen the same way twice.”
— Aslan, Prince Caspian, ch. 10
“Once there was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.”
— The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, opening line
“I call all times soon.”
— Aslan, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, ch. 10
“Remember the signs. Trust the signs.”
— Aslan, The Silver Chair, ch. 2
“Further up and further in!”
— Aslan, The Last Battle, ch. 15
“The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning.”
— Aslan, The Last Battle, ch. 16
Elsewhere in the work
“A children’s story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story.”
— “On Three Ways of Writing for Children”, 1952
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
— “Is Theology Poetry?”, 1945
“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
— Mere Christianity (The Foundations of Christianity), Book III, ch. 10
“Friendship is born at the moment when one man says to another ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’”
— The Four Loves, 1960
“Nobody ever told me that grief felt so like fear.”
— A Grief Observed, 1961, opening line
“Courage, dear heart.”
— The Last Battle, ch. 14
“Courage is not simply one of the qualities, but the form that every quality takes when tested.”
— The Screwtape Letters, Letter 29
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’”
— The Great Divorce, ch. 9
Watch out for false quotes
These lines circulate under Lewis’s name, but he never wrote them, or not in this form:
- “We read to know that we are not alone.” — line from the script of Shadowlands (William Nicholson), not from Lewis.
- “You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” — often attributed to Lewis, but not found in his work.
- “Don’t ever be afraid of the dark.” — attributed to Lewis online, but no source (often linked to The Silver Chair).
- “Courage is not merely a virtue of the mind, it is the virtue of the heart.” — attributed to Lewis online, but no source (often linked to The Silver Chair).
Daily Thoughts (2006)
In January 2006, the old website used to send each morning an email with an excerpt from Lewis. The 31 thoughts are preserved in the archives of this page.
- citations —
- One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. — Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. — Dedication of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (to Lucy Barfield), 1950 — true — source (replace with published translation)
- Of course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you. — 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you. — Mr. Beaver, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Chapter 8 — true — source (replace with published translation)
- Things never happen the same way twice. — Things never happen the same way twice. — Aslan, Prince Caspian, Chapter 10 — true — source (replace with published translation)
- There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it. — There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it. — The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, First line — true — source (replace with published translation)
- I call all times soon. — I call all times soon. — Aslan, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Chapter 10 — true — source (replace with published translation)
- Remember the signs. Believe the signs. — Remember the signs. Believe the signs. — Aslan, The Silver Chair, Chapter 2 — true — source (replace with published translation)
- Further up and further in! — Further up and further in! — Aslan, The Last Battle, Chapter 15 — true — source (replace with published translation)
- The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning. — The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning. — Aslan, The Last Battle, Chapter 16 — true — source (replace with published translation)
- A children's story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children's story. — A children's story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children's story. — « On Three Ways of Writing for Children », 1952 — true — source (replace with published translation)
- I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. — I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. — « Is Theology Poetry? », 1945 — true — source (replace with published translation)
- If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. — If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. — Mere Christianity (Les Fondements du christianisme), Book III, Chapter 10 — true — source (replace with published translation)
- Friendship is born at the moment when one man says to another: 'What! You too? I thought that no one but myself…' — Friendship is born at the moment when one man says to another: 'What! You too? I thought that no one but myself…' — The Four Loves, 1960 — true — source (replace with published translation)
- No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. — No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. — Apprendre la mort (A Grief Observed), 1961, First line — true — source (replace with published translation)
- Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. — Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. — Aslan, The Last Battle, Letter 29 — true — source (replace with published translation)
- There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.' — There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.' — The Last Battle, Chapter 9 — true — source (replace with published translation)
- We read to know we are not alone. — We read to know we are not alone. — Aslan, Apocrypha: line from the Shadowlands screenplay (William Nicholson) — false — source (replace with published translation)
- You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body. — You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body. — Apocrypha: often attributed to Lewis online, but untraceable in his works — false — source (replace with published translation)
- You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. — You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. — Apocrypha: attributed to Lewis online, but without source (often linked to Les Brown) — false — source (replace with published translation)
- Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less. — Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less. — Apocrypha in this form: modern summary of an idea from Mere Christianity (Book III, Chapter 8) — false — source (replace with published translation)
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