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'Are you not thirsty?' said the Lion. 'I am dying of thirst,' said Jill. 'Then drink,' said the Lion. 'May I - could I - would you mind going away while I do?' said Jill. The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience. The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic. 'Will you promise not to - do anything to me, if I do come?' said Jill. 'I make no promise,' said the Lion. Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer. 'Do you eat girls?' she said. 'I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms,' said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it. 'I daren't come and drink,' said Jill. 'Then you will die of thirst,' said the Lion. 'Oh dear!' said Jill, coming another step nearer. 'I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.' 'There is no other stream,' said the Lion.

C. S. Lewis#153

FearRiskAuthorityNeedSurvival

About this quote

What does it mean?
The Lion demands Jill drink from the stream but will not promise safety or answer her questions about danger.
In plain terms
You get what you need, but there is no guarantee of safety.
What can you take from it?
Need drives you forward despite fear.

Where it applies

  • moral choices
  • facing challenges
  • authority figures

Putting it to work

  • face fear
  • accept conditions

Questions to consider

  • When does need override fear?
  • What do you risk to survive?

Another view

Unconditional demands can be dangerous without clarity.

More from C. S. Lewis

  1. 'My own plans are made. While I can, I sail east in the Dawn Treader. When she fails me, I paddle east in my coracle. When she sinks, I shall swim east with my…

    Permalink to quote #152
  2. 'You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you,' said the Lion. (ch. 2)

    Permalink to quote #154
  3. 'Please Aslan, before we go, will you tell us when we can come back to Narnia again? Please. And oh, do, do, do, make it soon.' - 'Dearest,' said Aslan very ge…

    Permalink to quote #151

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