C. S. Lewis Quote 

"Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good
of its victim 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 our own good
will torment us without end for they do so with the approval
of their own conscience."

by:
C. S. Lewis
(1898-1963), British novelist
Source:
"God in the Dock" (1948)
Categories:
 
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Reader comments about this quote:
 -- aidan, Vancouver 
 -- yadent, San Diego 
Thank you and amen.
 -- Mike, Norwalk		 
Moral busybodies ARE the worst!
 -- Mary, Largo		 
Moral Busy Bodies....small people trying to be big people. Petty individuals who have no lives of their own and want to control yours. Meaningless wastes of skin...
 -- J Carlton, Calgary		 
"Omnipotent moral busybodies" on a mission: Al Qaida.
 -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas		 
How true it is of mankind, politicians in particular.
 -- Pam, Denver		 
I wouldn't know where to start to show how far American busy bodies have set us at odds with each other -- billions are being spent to protect us from ourselves -- even to the point we don't even ask why any more. Our prisons are filled with 'offenders' whose only 'victims' are merely themselves. It is big business for the state.
 -- E Archer, NYC		 
Smoking bans are another perfect example.
 -- Bob Crandall, Las Vegas		 
 -- RobertSRQ 
The truth in the statement comes from the fact that tyrants are much easier to oppose than do-gooders. We need a society where people can do what they will while the leaders only do what they must.
 -- warren, olathe		 
 -- Bumblebee, Boise 
"The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others." Bertrand Russell
 -- Fallible, Whynot, NC		 
End age discrimination, and legalize freedom.
 -- rosco, p-town		 
What publication is this quote take from? Given Lewis's vociferous Christian moralizing, this is an odd statement from him.
 -- Garrett, Chapel Hill		 
Lewis may have moralized but he never considered using the power of the state to force his views on others. That is the differnce between him and some of hte nanny state people running around.
 -- jon, dallas		 
That quote is from "God in the Dock" (copyright 1948). And to say this is an odd statement from Lewis demonstrates a pronounced unfamiliarity with him. He was very critical of individuals who interfered with others' privacy.
 -- Keith, New London, CT		 
 -- Anonymous 
Lewis's Christian morality recognized that the human heart must be changed from within, and that of all thing true moral integrity is impossible to force into others' hearts. This is *exactly* the sort of thing one would expect to hear from him, especially given his love of George MacDonald, whose utter contempt of moralistic, hypocritical busybodies is legendary.
 -- Kat, GA		 
One of the most important quotes of all time! Why? Because it rings with truth and exposes a belief that underlies the modern liberal ideology - that the end justifies the means. It is profound in the way that it pats them on the back and cuts to their heart at the same time. --- your motivations are good (thank you), but they are having the EXACT OPPOSITE EFFECT than the one you originally desired.
 -- Anonymous, fairfax, VA		 
 -- gms, Richmond VA 
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