“The last moments before damnation are not often so dramatic. Often the man knows with perfect clarity that some still possible action of his own will could yet save him. But he cannot make this knowledge real to himself. Some tiny habitual sensuality, some resentment too trivial to waste on a blue bottle, the indulgence of some fatal lethargy, seems to him at that moment more important than the choice between total joy and total destruction. With eyes wide open, seeing that the endless terror is just about to begin and yet (for the moment) unable to feel terrified, he watches passively, not moving a finger for his own rescue, while the last links with joy and reason are severed, and drowsily sees the trap close upon his soul.” SoulReasonDeathHellDamnationTrivialityLethargyFlippancy Book:That Hideous Strength Source: That Hideous Strength
“You’re being sarcastic.” “No, actually I was being flippant, but I can do sarcastic if you’d rather.” SarcasmBanterFlippancy Book:The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy Source: The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy
“If you're ever accused of not taking things seriously, take it as a compliment. Humour is a sign of intelligence. Any objections to your facetiousness are likely an admission by the complainant that they are guilty of taking things way too seriously. The flaw lies with them.” HumourComplimentFlawSense Of HumourFacetiousnessFlippancySerious MindednessHumorlessness Author:Stewart Stafford
“But flippancy is the best of all. In the first place it is very economical. Only a clever human can make a real Joke about virtue, or indeed about anything else; any of them can be trained to talk as if virtue were funny. Among flippant people the joke is always assumed to have been made. No one actually makes it; but every serious subject is discussed in a manner which implies that they have already found a ridiculous side to it.” Flippancy Book:The Screwtape Letters Source: The Screwtape Letters