73 Wedding Quotes Cs Lewis: Insights for Lasting Love

When we think about profound insights into love and commitment, the words of C.S. Lewis often come to mind. His writings delve into the nature of joy, sacrifice, and the enduring power of human connection. It's no surprise, then, that his thoughts on marriage, though not always explicitly stated as "wedding quotes," offer a wealth of wisdom for anyone embarking on or nurturing a lifelong partnership. Exploring Wedding Quotes Cs Lewis can provide a unique perspective on what truly makes a marriage strong and beautiful.

The Foundation of True Partnership

C.S. Lewis understood that marriage is more than just a romantic union; it's a deeply spiritual and practical commitment. He often spoke of love not just as a feeling, but as an act of will and dedication. This perspective is crucial when considering the daily realities of married life. The importance of seeing marriage as a journey of growth, rather than a destination of constant bliss, is a key takeaway from his ideas. He emphasized that true love involves choosing to love, even when feelings fluctuate. This choice is the bedrock upon which a lasting partnership is built.

Marriage is a covenant, not just a contract.
Love grows through shared experience and mutual effort.
The spiritual dimension of marriage enriches the everyday.
Sacrifice is not a burden, but a part of true love.

Lewis's concept of "virtue" also plays a significant role in his view of marriage. He believed that cultivating virtues like patience, kindness, and forgiveness is essential for navigating the challenges that inevitably arise. These aren't just pleasant traits; they are the active ingredients that keep a relationship healthy and resilient.

Patience is key when understanding your spouse's perspective.
Kindness in small gestures builds a strong emotional bond.
Forgiveness releases resentment and allows for healing.
Honesty, even when difficult, fosters trust.

Ultimately, Lewis viewed marriage as a crucible for personal transformation, a place where individuals can become more fully themselves through the act of loving another. It's a partnership that invites both individuals to grow, learn, and become better people. This involves:

Aspect	Lewis's Insight
Growth	Marriage as a catalyst for becoming more Christ-like or one's best self.
Sacrifice	Giving up personal desires for the good of the union.
Commitment	A steadfast promise, even in the face of hardship.

Wedding Quotes Cs Lewis for Building Trust

"We must not, in trying to think about God, make of Him a great big man to whom we can present things, and say, "Now give me this." We must try to think of Him as the source of all that is good, and that means all that is beautiful, all that is true, all that is wholesome, all that is perfect." (Applying this to trust: Build trust on the foundation of truth and goodness.)
"The Christian view of the world is that the character of the universe is the character of God. Hence, the universe is good." (Trust that your partner's character, like the universe, has goodness at its core.)
"It is not a question of loving things. It is a question of loving God." (Extend this to loving your partner as a reflection of the good you see in the world.)
"The command to love God and neighbor is not a command to do what we like, but to do what is right." (Trust that your partner's actions are guided by what is right.)
"We are made for joy." (Trust that the ultimate aim of your marriage is shared joy.)
"The door of the divine is not a locked door that you have to find the key for. It is a door that is already open." (Trust that genuine connection is always possible.)
"The universe is a harmonious whole." (Trust in the underlying harmony of your relationship.)
"Our hearts are made for delight." (Trust that your love can bring profound delight.)
"The greatest need is to love and be loved." (Trust that this need can be fulfilled within your marriage.)
"If you want to be good, you must try to be good." (Trust in your partner's effort to be good to you.)

Wedding Quotes Cs Lewis for Embracing Sacrifice

"It is a dangerous thing to be a Christian; it is a dangerous thing to be a human being." (Embrace the inherent risks and sacrifices in deep commitment.)
"You can't get away from yourself." (Sacrifice self-centeredness for the sake of the partnership.)
"The author of all evil is not the devil, but ourselves." (Sacrifice the tendency towards selfishness that causes harm.)
"It is not by the exercise of the will that men become good, but by the doing of good things." (Sacrifice inertia for active participation in building the marriage.)
"The Christian life is not a life of enjoyment, but a life of duty." (Sacrifice fleeting enjoyment for the enduring duty of love.)
"A great many people think that they are doing God's will when they are only doing their own." (Sacrifice personal desires when they conflict with the well-being of the marriage.)
"You must give up yourself in order to find yourself." (Sacrifice ego for deeper self-understanding through your partner.)
"The world is not a playground, but a school." (Sacrifice the desire for constant ease for the lessons learned through shared challenges.)
"It is not enough to be born again; we must also be made new." (Sacrifice old habits and patterns for continuous renewal within marriage.)
"The truest kindness consists in the doing of what is unpleasant." (Sacrifice comfort for the sake of doing what is right and necessary for your spouse.)

Wedding Quotes Cs Lewis for Experiencing Joy

"I have seen a miracle. I have seen the miracle of a flower opening its petals to the sun. That is God's love made visible." (Find joy in the simple, beautiful unfolding of your relationship.)
"Joy is the serious business of heaven." (Pursue shared joy as a sacred endeavor.)
"The world is full of wonders, if only you will look for them." (Cultivate a sense of wonder and discovery within your marriage.)
"We are each of us a universe, but we are not alone in it." (Find joy in the unique universe you create together.)
"The aim of education is to learn to love what is beautiful." (Learn to love the beauty of your partner and your shared life.)
"You must give up yourself in order to find yourself." (Discover profound joy in self-discovery through your spouse.)
"The more we love, the more we have." (Experience the overflowing joy of a love that expands.)
"The noblest and most perfect power that we can wield is the power to love." (Find joy in the profound capacity to love.)
"We are made for joy." (This is not just a statement, but a guiding principle for marriage.)
"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." (Find joy by focusing on the present moment and your shared life, rather than chasing an elusive ideal.)

Wedding Quotes Cs Lewis for Enduring Love

"Love is not the feeling, but the will." (Endure through the commitment of your will to love.)
"It is only when we are in relation to others that we can become ourselves." (Your enduring love shapes who you become.)
"The Christian view of marriage is that it is a battlefield." (Endure through the challenges, seeing them as opportunities for growth.)
"The greatest need is to love and be loved." (This enduring need is met by an enduring love.)
"We are all put here to win." (Win the battle of life together through enduring love.)
"Life without God is like a clock without hands." (Find enduring purpose in your love through shared values.)
"The most dangerous thing you can do is to make a idol of your own opinion." (Endure by being open to your partner's perspective.)
"We are not merely men and women, but angels in disguise." (See the divine in your partner, fostering enduring affection.)
"The love that is not shared is wasted." (Your enduring love finds its purpose in being shared.)
"The soul is immortal." (Your love, in its essence, can transcend earthly limitations.)

Wedding Quotes Cs Lewis for Partnership in Growth

"It is not by the exercise of the will that men become good, but by the doing of good things." (Grow together by actively doing good for each other.)
"We are each of us a universe, but we are not alone in it." (Grow by exploring each other's unique universes.)
"The world is not a playground, but a school." (Learn and grow through the lessons marriage provides.)
"You must give up yourself in order to find yourself." (Growth comes from shedding limitations and discovering your true selves together.)
"The aim of education is to learn to love what is beautiful." (Continuously learn to appreciate the beauty of your partner and your shared journey.)
"The greatest need is to love and be loved." (Grow by fulfilling this fundamental need for each other.)
"It is not enough to be born again; we must also be made new." (Commit to continuous personal and relational renewal.)
"The love that is not shared is wasted." (Your shared growth enriches both individuals.)
"We are not merely men and women, but angels in disguise." (See the potential for growth and divinity in each other.)
"The Christian life is not a life of enjoyment, but a life of duty." (Grow by embracing the responsibilities that lead to deeper fulfillment.)

Wedding Quotes Cs Lewis for Spiritual Connection

"To love another person is to see the face of God." (Deepen your spiritual connection by seeing God in your spouse.)
"Christianity is not a philosophy, but a religion." (Allow your faith to guide and strengthen your marital bond.)
"The universe is a harmonious whole." (Trust in the divine order that connects you.)
"Our hearts are made for delight." (Find spiritual delight in your shared love.)
"We are made for joy." (Recognize spiritual joy in your union.)
"The soul is immortal." (Understand your relationship as having eternal significance.)
"God's love is not a variable thing." (Find assurance in the unchanging nature of divine love, reflected in your commitment.)
"The divine love is the only real thing." (Prioritize and nurture the divine aspects of your love.)
"The door of the divine is not a locked door that you have to find the key for. It is a door that is already open." (Your marriage can be a pathway to deeper spiritual understanding.)
"We must love God and neighbor." (Let your love for each other be a testament to your love for the divine.)

Wedding Quotes Cs Lewis for Unconditional Acceptance

"If you are a Christian, you must forgive. Forgiveness is part of God's nature." (Extend unconditional acceptance through forgiveness.)
"We are not merely men and women, but angels in disguise." (See the inherent goodness and potential in your partner, even during flaws.)
"The universe is a harmonious whole." (Trust in the underlying harmony of your relationship, even when things are difficult.)
"We must not, in trying to think about God, make of Him a great big man to whom we can present things..." (Apply this to your partner: don't create an unrealistic ideal, but accept them as they are.)
"The command to love God and neighbor is not a command to do what we like, but to do what is right." (Accept your partner's choices and actions as part of their journey, even if they differ from your preferences.)
"You must give up yourself in order to find yourself." (Accept your own imperfections and allow your partner to accept theirs.)
"The world is not a playground, but a school." (Accept the challenges and lessons that come with learning and growing together.)
"The greatest need is to love and be loved." (Fulfill this need by offering unconditional love and acceptance.)
"It is not enough to be born again; we must also be made new." (Accept that both you and your partner are works in progress.)
"Our hearts are made for delight." (Accept the beautiful, delightful aspects of your partner that bring joy.)

Wedding Quotes Cs Lewis for Commitment and Duty

"The Christian life is not a life of enjoyment, but a life of duty." (Marriage, viewed through this lens, is a sacred duty of commitment.)
"Love is not the feeling, but the will." (Commit to the will to love, even when feelings change.)
"We are all put here to win." (Win the challenges of life together through unwavering commitment.)
"The universe is a harmonious whole." (Trust in the underlying order and purpose that your commitment serves.)
"The greatest need is to love and be loved." (Commit to fulfilling this profound need for each other.)
"The soul is immortal." (Understand your commitment as having eternal weight and significance.)
"You must give up yourself in order to find yourself." (Commit to the process of self-discovery within the framework of the marriage.)
"Life without God is like a clock without hands." (Find purpose and meaning in your commitment through shared values and beliefs.)
"The command to love God and neighbor is not a command to do what we like, but to do what is right." (Commit to doing what is right for your spouse and your marriage.)
"It is not enough to be born again; we must also be made new." (Commit to the continuous effort of renewal within your relationship.)

C.S. Lewis's insights offer a profound and timeless perspective on marriage. While he may not have penned specific "wedding quotes" in the traditional sense, his writings provide a rich tapestry of wisdom that can guide couples toward a deeper, more fulfilling union. By understanding his emphasis on love as an act of will, the importance of sacrifice, the pursuit of joy, and the spiritual dimension of commitment, couples can build a marriage that is not only strong but also radiant with enduring love. The journey of marriage, as illuminated by Lewis, is one of continuous growth, mutual support, and a shared discovery of life's most beautiful truths.