Not Failure, But Low Aim, Is Crime – C.S. Lewis
Created at: May 1, 2025
Not failure, but low aim, is crime. — C.S. Lewis
Prioritizing Ambition Over Success
Lewis’s aphorism asserts that setting one’s sights too low, rather than failing after striving greatly, is the true wrongdoing. This mirrors the motif in Robert Browning’s famous line: 'A man's reach should exceed his grasp' (*Andrea del Sarto*, 1855), where ambition itself is valorized, regardless of the outcome.
Failure as a Path to Growth
Rather than condemning failure, Lewis frames it as a necessary and even noble step in pursuing higher goals. Thomas Edison exemplified this philosophy, reportedly remarking that he had not failed, but merely 'found 10,000 ways that won’t work' before inventing the light bulb (cited in Paul Israel’s *Edison: A Life of Invention*, 1998).
Ethical Implications of Settling
By labeling 'low aim' as 'crime,' Lewis treats passivity and complacency as moral failings. In *The Republic* (c. 375 BC), Plato’s allegory of the cave warns that settling for shadowy realities prevents one from striving for the truth, implying a shared ethical duty to pursue higher understanding.
Encouraging Risk-Taking
Lewis’s statement encourages individuals to embrace challenging, even risky, aspirations. The early explorers' willingness to chart unknown seas—like Magellan’s circumnavigation (1519-1522)—illustrates that civilization advances when people dare greatly rather than accept comfortable limitations.
Influence on Educational Philosophy
Educational theorists such as John Dewey emphasized the importance of fostering high aspirations and resilience in learners. Dewey’s advocacy for experiential learning (*Democracy and Education*, 1916) aligns with Lewis’s perspective: setbacks are acceptable, but the failure to push boundaries is not.