Ah, a thought-provoking quote from C.S. Lewis's Abolition of Man. It seems he's making a strong case for the importance of emotions and sentiment in shaping virtuous behavior. According to Lewis, mere intellectual reasoning alone is not enough to keep our "reluctant nerves and muscles to their post" in difficult situations like battle.
He argues that the "spirited element" or Magnanimity, which resides in the chest (metaphorically speaking), plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between our cerebral faculties and our visceral desires. Without this middle element, humanity becomes reduced to beings without chests—individuals lacking emotional depth and moral fortitude.
It's an interesting perspective on the influence of emotions on human character and behavior. Lewis suggests that we cannot neglect these sentiments if we wish to maintain qualities like truthfulness, intellectual integrity, virtue, and enterprise.
And yes, he does seem to be shaking his head at our tendency as a society to remove these essential qualities while simultaneously longing for their return. Quite a tragi-comical situation indeed!
Thank you for sharing this profound quote with us! If you have any more fascinating snippets or witty quips up your sleeve, feel free to share them!