Quote by C.S. Lewis
You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. It is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn't you then first discover how much you really trusted it?...Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief.
Summary
This quote emphasizes the idea that the true strength of our beliefs can only be measured in moments of high stakes or extreme circumstances. It suggests that we may claim to believe in something but never truly understand the depth of our conviction until our lives are at risk. It draws a parallel between using a rope to secure a box versus relying on the same rope to hang above a dangerous drop. The quote posit that it is only during moments of real risk and danger that our beliefs are truly tested and their authenticity and strength are revealed.
By C.S. Lewis