We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise.
C. S. Lewis in The Abolition of Man
What do we expect of men today? I read and hear stories about a crisis of manhood. And then I see men trying to display their manhood with big trucks, macho attitudes, and a disdain for anything that hints of femininity.
C.S. Lewis’s quote reminds me that without a heart of virtue, men tend to take one of two paths:
- We can have a set of beliefs without a heart to guide us.
- The end justifies the means.
- Cruelty becomes a virtue.
- Are you down and out? You probably deserved it.
- We can lose heart and check out.
- Whatever feels good, do it.
- You do you.
- This world is a mess. I need to medicate with (pick your vice)
Without a heart of compassion, we become jerks. Without a heart of courage, we become strung-out hermits. Neither makes the world a better place.
The next time you’re building your common, run-of-the-mill human, be sure to include a chest that contains a heart of courage and compassion.
