Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.
C. S. Lewis
The Value of Friendship
Topic: Family & Friendship
I have no duty to be anyone’s Friend and no man in the world has a duty to be mine. No claims, no shadow of necessity. Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself (for God did not need to create). It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.
Clive Staples Lewis, known as C.S. Lewis, was born on November 29, 1898, in Belfast, Ireland. Growing up in a home filled with books, he developed a love for literature early on. After serving briefly in World War I, he attended Oxford University, where he earned a degree in English language and literature. He later became a professor at Oxford in 1925, a position he held for nearly three decades. His deep interest in both literature and theology shaped much of his writing throughout his life.
At Oxford, Lewis was part of the Inklings, a group of writers that included his close friend J.R.R. Tolkien. Their shared love for mythology and storytelling deeply influenced their works. Lewis's interest in Christian theology is evident in his writings, such as Mere Christianity and The Problem of Pain. His clear and accessible style made him a leading voice in Christian apologetics. His most famous fictional work, The Chronicles of Narnia, remains a classic in children's literature.
In addition to fiction, Lewis wrote extensively on love, friendship, and human nature. In The Four Loves, he emphasized the value of spiritual friendship, describing it as a bond that goes beyond companionship. His friendship with Tolkien, rooted in shared ideals and intellectual pursuits, reflected this belief. C.S. Lewis continued to write until his death on November 22, 1963, in Oxford, England, leaving a lasting impact on literature and Christian thought.
The Four Loves
Lewis, C. S. The Inspirational Writings of C.S. Lewis: Surprised by Joy, Reflections on the Psalms, the Four Loves, the Business of Heaven. Inspirational Press, 1991.
C. S. Lewis
Theme: Friendship
About This C.S. Lewis Quotation [Commentary]
C.S. Lewis’s quote, “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival,” emphasizes that friendship, while not essential for basic survival, enriches life. Lewis sees friendship as something that transcends utility, offering a unique kind of connection that enhances our emotional and spiritual experience. It is not biologically necessary, but it adds depth and meaning to life, making survival itself more valuable.
In The Four Loves, Lewis highlights that friendship differs from other forms of love because it is voluntary and free from obligation. Unlike familial or romantic relationships, which often come with expectations, true friendship is chosen freely. Friends meet on equal ground, unburdened by social roles or external obligations, allowing them to connect based on shared values and personality.
By comparing friendship to art, philosophy, and the universe, Lewis underscores that, while not required for survival, friendship enriches our lives in much the same way these pursuits do. For Lewis, friendship is a source of joy and personal growth, offering a deeper sense of connection and purpose often overlooked in modern society.
A Longer Excerpt From the Quote’s Context
C.S. Lewis on the Love Between Friends
In The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis describes philia—the love between friends—as a bond rooted in a shared pursuit of truth and wisdom, making it deeper than simple companionship. Unlike romantic or familial love, friendship is freely chosen and, as Lewis notes, “the least biological” of loves. He admired how ancient cultures valued friendship as “the happiest and most fully human of all loves,” lamenting that modern society often overlooks its importance. Though friendship can have risks like exclusivity or pride, Lewis saw it as one of life’s greatest gifts, offering meaning and value beyond mere survival, as demonstrated in his own friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien.
C.S. Lewis on True Friendship by Maria Popova
What is so delicious as a just and firm encounter of two, in a thought, in a feeling?” Emerson marveled in his exquisite meditation on friendship. But what, exactly, is at the heart of this “just and firm encounter”?
In his insightful 1960 book The Four Loves (public library), C.S. Lewis (November 29, 1898–November 22, 1963) picks up where Aristotle left off and examines the differences between the four main categories of intimate human bonds — affection, the most basic and expressive; Eros, the passionate and sometimes destructive desire of lovers; charity, the highest and most unselfish spiritual connection; and friendship, the rarest, least jealous, and most profound relation.
In one of the most beautiful passages, he considers how friendship differs from the other three types of love by focusing on its central question: “Do you see the same truth.”
—Maria Popova, BrainPickings [C.S. Lewis on True Friendship].
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