Friendship has no survival value; rather it is one of those things… — C. S. Lewis | Printable Wall Art

“Friendship has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.”

Words by C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) — British author of The Four Loves.

About this quote

Lewis distinguishes between basic biological necessity and the things that make life meaningful. Food and shelter keep us alive, but friendship is not essential for bare physical survival. Instead, companionship belongs alongside art and philosophy as a higher quiet joy. It is a luxury that gives purpose to our daily efforts, turning mere existence into a life worth living.

The line appears in C. S. Lewis's 1960 book The Four Loves, in which he examines affection, friendship, passion, and charity, contrasting practical survival instincts with higher, non-utilitarian human bonds.

People often hang this print in a living room or entryway to welcome friends and celebrate warm hospitality.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 18 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Tracked Caps Unsigned · Editorial Justified

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.