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Quote by Sheldon Vanauken

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A Severe Mercy: A Story of Faith, Tragedy, and Triumph

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Author

Sheldon Vanauken
Sheldon Vanauken

Sheldon Vanauken (1914-1996) was an American author and scholar, best known for his memoir "A Severe Mercy" about his friendship with C.S. Lewis. Born on August 4, 1914, Vanauken studied at Oxford University, where he befriended the renowned writer C.S. Lewis. His book, published in 1977, chronicles his deep love for his wife Jean Davis and their spiritual journey alongside Lewis. Vanauken's elegant prose and profound exploration of faith and friendship have made his work a classic in religious literature, continuing to inspire readers worldwide. more

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“Sonnet of Heaven and Hell There's a tale we hear of a heavenly kingdom, Which is passed on through generations. Because once you place salvation outside life, Accountability vanishes from all prioritization. Self-determination makes one unfit for slavery, Reason makes one unfit for manipulation. If you take charge of your life and community, Institutions fail to dictate your ambition. Heaven and hell exist here and now, They are manifestations of human behavior. Acts of oneness bring heaven in a moment, Deeds of division breed hell from thin air. The paradigm we have was made yesterday. It is our world, let's build it our way.”

“It was the pure Language of the World. It required no explanation, just as the universe needs none as it travels through endless time. What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life, and that, with no need for words, she recognized the same thing. He was more certain of it than of anything in the world. He had been told by his parents and grandparents that he must fall in love and really know a person before becoming committed. But maybe people who felt that way had never learned the universal language. Because, when you know that language, it's easy to understand that someone in the world awaits you, whether it's in the middle of the desert or in some great city. And when two such people encounter each other, and their eyes meet, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one's dreams would have no meaning.”