Out of the Silent Planet

by

C. S. Lewis

A renowned physicist and man of science who organizes the mission to Mars (Malacandra) and seeks to eliminate the “savage” beings he finds there so that humanity can colonize Mars and have another planet to live on should Earth ever become uninhabitable. Weston believes in the superiority of mankind above all, and swears loyalty to the human race – though he is shown to be as selfish about protecting his own life as any beast when he is put in danger. Weston is willing to use Ransom as a sacrifice when the sorns of Mars wish to talk with a human, assuming the worst of the sorns’ intentions. Weston represents the misguided life of a man who assumes that humans control the universe, and that mankind is the pinnacle of life in the universe. Oyarsa describes Weston as “bent” and needing “curing” before he can properly take part in civilized life. Weston is shown to be far more primitive in true morality than the seemingly “barbaric” species on Malacandra.

Dr. Weston Quotes in Out of the Silent Planet

The Out of the Silent Planet quotes below are all either spoken by Dr. Weston or refer to Dr. Weston. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Christian Imagery and Thought  Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

There was something about the whole scene suspicious enough and disagreeable enough to convince him that he had blundered on something criminal, while on the other hand he had all the deep, irrational conviction of his age and class that such things could never cross the path of an ordinary person except in fiction and could least of all be associated with professors and old school-fellows. Even if they had been ill-treating the boy Ransom did not see much chance of getting him from them by force.

Related Characters: Lewis (The Narrator) (speaker), Dr. Elwin Ransom, Dr. Weston, Dick Devine
Page Number: 15
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

“I consider your philosophy of life raving lunacy. I suppose all that stuff about infinity and eternity means that you think you are justified in doing anything—absolutely anything—here and now, on the off chance that some creatures or other descended from man as we know him may crawl about a few centuries longer in some part of the universe.”
“Yes—anything whatever,” returned the scientist sternly, “and all educated opinion—for I do not call classics and history and such trash education—is entirely on my side.”

Related Characters: Dr. Elwin Ransom (speaker), Dr. Weston (speaker)
Page Number: 29-30
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 18 Quotes

They thought I wanted one of your race to eat and went to fetch one. If they had come a few miles to see me I would have received them honourably; now they have twice gone a voyage of millions of miles for nothing and will appear before me none the less. And you also, Ransom of Thulcandra, you have taken many vain troubles to avoid standing where you stand now.

Related Characters: Oyarsa (speaker), Dr. Elwin Ransom, Dr. Weston, Dick Devine
Page Number: 121
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 20 Quotes

"It is well that I have heard you," said Oyarsa. "For though your mind is feebler, your will is less bent than I thought. It is not for yourself that you would do all this."
"No," said Weston proudly in Malacandrian. "Me die. Man live."

Related Characters: Dr. Weston (speaker), Oyarsa (speaker)
Page Number: 136
Explanation and Analysis:

"Trash! Defeatist trash!" he shouted at Oyarsa in English; then, drawing himself up to his full height, he added in Malacandrian, "You say your Maleldil let all go dead. Other one, Bent One, he fight, jump, live—not all talkee-talkee. Me no care Maleldil. Like Bent One better: me on his side."

Related Characters: Dr. Weston (speaker), Oyarsa, The Bent One
Page Number: 139
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Out of the Silent Planet LitChart as a printable PDF.
Out of the Silent Planet PDF

Dr. Weston Quotes in Out of the Silent Planet

The Out of the Silent Planet quotes below are all either spoken by Dr. Weston or refer to Dr. Weston. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Christian Imagery and Thought  Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

There was something about the whole scene suspicious enough and disagreeable enough to convince him that he had blundered on something criminal, while on the other hand he had all the deep, irrational conviction of his age and class that such things could never cross the path of an ordinary person except in fiction and could least of all be associated with professors and old school-fellows. Even if they had been ill-treating the boy Ransom did not see much chance of getting him from them by force.

Related Characters: Lewis (The Narrator) (speaker), Dr. Elwin Ransom, Dr. Weston, Dick Devine
Page Number: 15
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

“I consider your philosophy of life raving lunacy. I suppose all that stuff about infinity and eternity means that you think you are justified in doing anything—absolutely anything—here and now, on the off chance that some creatures or other descended from man as we know him may crawl about a few centuries longer in some part of the universe.”
“Yes—anything whatever,” returned the scientist sternly, “and all educated opinion—for I do not call classics and history and such trash education—is entirely on my side.”

Related Characters: Dr. Elwin Ransom (speaker), Dr. Weston (speaker)
Page Number: 29-30
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 18 Quotes

They thought I wanted one of your race to eat and went to fetch one. If they had come a few miles to see me I would have received them honourably; now they have twice gone a voyage of millions of miles for nothing and will appear before me none the less. And you also, Ransom of Thulcandra, you have taken many vain troubles to avoid standing where you stand now.

Related Characters: Oyarsa (speaker), Dr. Elwin Ransom, Dr. Weston, Dick Devine
Page Number: 121
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 20 Quotes

"It is well that I have heard you," said Oyarsa. "For though your mind is feebler, your will is less bent than I thought. It is not for yourself that you would do all this."
"No," said Weston proudly in Malacandrian. "Me die. Man live."

Related Characters: Dr. Weston (speaker), Oyarsa (speaker)
Page Number: 136
Explanation and Analysis:

"Trash! Defeatist trash!" he shouted at Oyarsa in English; then, drawing himself up to his full height, he added in Malacandrian, "You say your Maleldil let all go dead. Other one, Bent One, he fight, jump, live—not all talkee-talkee. Me no care Maleldil. Like Bent One better: me on his side."

Related Characters: Dr. Weston (speaker), Oyarsa, The Bent One
Page Number: 139
Explanation and Analysis: