The Most Important Career: C.S. Lewis Homemaker Quote
Can you believe this is a homemaker MISQUOTE!?
A HOUSEWIFE’S WORK…IS SURELY, IN REALITY, THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK IN THE WORLD…YOUR JOB IS THE ONE FOR WHICH ALL OTHERS EXIST.”
-C.S.LEWIS
Hello Homemaker, this one is for You!
YES, in my research of this beautiful quote, I came to realize that it was a complete misquote, or more like a condensed version of the real quote from C.S. Lewis!
Let’s gather some inspiration together and unpack C.S. Lewis’ Homemaker Quote.
I thought it would be fun to follow weekly theme trends and turn a mundane Monday into a Motivational Monday!
Homemaker, Housewife, Stay-at-Home Mom, Work-at-Home Mom, Mom, Mum
I’m so honored to hold those beautiful titles.
But I’ll be honest, it was not one that I’ve always dreamt of.
No… it’s not a title we were allowed to dream of but something is brewing…
The Homemaker Paradigm Shift
During the 1960s and prior, it was commonplace for women to be housewives and homemakers.
Television sitcoms of that time such as I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver, and The Dick Van Dyke Show have all portrayed women as dutiful housewives unless you ended up in The Twilight Zone.
Lucy was a typical housewife character of the I Love Lucy Show, she often found herself getting into trouble and breaking boundaries.
Her character must have been the preamble of what was to happen with the role of women in our society.
Media and television have long been a big influence on our culture.
Fast forward to the 1990s when sitcoms like Sex and the City have entirely shifted us away from that initial housewife persona.
Where we are today, Lord, help us.
The homemaker revolution is on the horizon!
I have been encouraged to see a homemaking revival in our society.
More and more homemaker communities are springing up and many of us mamas are taking back our inheritance.
To be a help meet.
Let’s explore C.S. Lewis’ inspirational homemaker quote
I found this quote while working on my website and realized that it is actually a misquote.
Lewis did write these words however, it has been chopped, cut, and condensed!
Let’s take a look at the paraphrased quote again shall we?
A HOUSEWIFE’S WORK…IS SURELY, IN REALITY, THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK IN THE WORLD…YOUR JOB IS THE ONE FOR WHICH ALL OTHERS EXIST.
C.S. Lewis
The Actual Homemaker Quote
According to the Misquotable C.S. Lewis by William O’flaherty, the Homemaker quote came from a letter Lewis wrote to Mrs. Johnson on March 16, 1955.
It goes as follows:
“I think I can understand that feeling about a housewife’s work being like that of Sisyphus (who was the stone rolling gentleman).
But it is surely, in reality, the most important work in the world.
What do ships, railways, mines, cars, government etc exist for except that people may be fed, warmed, and safe in their own homes?
As Dr Johnson said, ‘To be happy at home is the end of all human endeavour’.
(1st to be happy, to prepare for being happy in our own real Home hereafter: 2nd, in the meantime, to be happy in our houses.)
We wage war in order to have peace, we work in order to have leisure, we produce food in order to eat it.
So your job is the one for which all others exist.”
C.S. Lewis
Affiliate links help support the blog. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See full disclosure here. Thanks for your support!
Shop Book
How encouraging was that!?
The full context blew me away!
How fun would it be to have a friend from which to receive letters of reassurance and support?
Mrs. Johnson was very blessed to have that kind of inspiration and more importantly affirmation.
Homemaker Motivation
I don’t know if Lewis and Mrs. Johnson were friends or acquaintances, however, it sounded like she needed a little encouragement.
Let’s address the elephant in the room, homemaking is certainly a beautiful and rewarding endeavor, yet it can be discouraging at times.
Oftentimes I wonder if my work around the house is futile.
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Artist Irma von Starkloff Rombauer, American, 1877–1962Sisyphus and the boulder
In his letter, Lewis mentions Sisyphus, who was a character in Greek Mythology.
Sisyphus was punished by Hades for cheating death twice.
Sisyphus was forced to roll a colossal boulder up a hill only for it to tumble back down just before he reached the top.
He had to repeat the process over and over for all eternity.
Yikes! Reminds me of the ginormous pile of laundry that builds up as soon as I wash it.
Or the stack of dishes in my sink… Didn’t I just clear it?
Homemaking can be heaven or hell, depending on how you look at it.
Homemaker Heaven
‘To be happy at home is the end to all human endeavor’
Mr. johnson, from cs lewis letter
When I read this line I sure got a boost of spirit.
It reminds me that the work we do is not futile, it has value.
So as we work through that pile of laundry, play some joyful tunes, open a window, turn on your diffuser, and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil combination.
And remember, you got this Homemaker!
What about you? Did you find encouragement in Lewis’s quote?
I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
Please, don’t forget to share this with another homemaker who would enjoy this motivational Monday post!
Thank you for writing this Annica!
I was looking for the actual homemaking quote of C.S. Lewis and also found the letter you did. The original context is truly inspiring and I love how you made the connection between Sisyphus story and the homemakers chores haha! You have a wonderful writing style.
Sending you love💕
Thanks for sending your love Nordic Homemaking! It means the world to me ❤️
C.S. Lewis has some mighty kind words to say to his friend, I return to them often. Homemaking has its ups and downs for sure!
I enjoyed your post! I was searching for C.S. Lewis’s quote on homemaking, which my daughter had written out for me years ago. Well written encouragement. Thanks so much! Keep at it!