Quote by C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock by C

You are told to love your neighbour as yourself. How do you love yourself? When I look into my own mind, I find that I do not love myself by thinking myself a dear old chap or having affectionate feelings. I do not think that I love myself because I am particularly good, but just because I am myself and quite apart from my character. I might detest something which I have done. Nevertheless, I do not cease to love myself. In other words, that definite distinction that Christians make between hating sin and loving the sinner is one that you have been making in your own case since you were born. You dislike what you have done, but you don't cease to love yourself. You may even think that you ought to be hanged. You may even think that you ought to go to the Police and own up and be hanged. Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.

Summary

This quote explains the concept of self-love and its relation to loving others. The speaker reflects on how they love themselves, not based on superficial qualities or actions, but simply because they exist. They acknowledge that, despite their flaws and mistakes, they still maintain a deep love for themselves. The quote emphasizes that love is not just about emotional affection, but about genuinely desiring the ultimate good for the loved person. It highlights the distinction between hating the actions or sins someone commits while still loving the individual. This understanding of self-love can then guide the way one loves and treats others.