In 1955, Robert Frost — the only poet ever to receive four Pulitzer Prizes — gave the commencement address at New Hampshire’s Dartmouth College. In his speech to the graduating students, he gave some advice that on first impression smacks of rather unpoetic conformity: “Always fall in with what you’re asked to accept.” But Frost wasn’t recommending blind acceptance. He told the students to take what they were given and remake it in their own way. It reminds us to embrace the circumstances we encounter in life and creatively shape them to our own purpose, rather than stubbornly trying to resist them. “My object in life,” Frost explained, “has been to hold my own with whatever’s going — not against, but with — to hold my own.”

This insight appears in C.S. Lewis’ 1958 book “Reflections on the Psalms”in the chapter titled “Connivance,” wherein he reflects on moral compromise and the subtle ways in which ideas can take root in our conscience. In this passage, Lewis explores how people may outwardly resist an argument yet continue to think about it further and still be affected by its influence long after the conversation ends. As a former atheist who became one of Christianity’s most influential modern voices, Lewis understood the long, slow process of internal transformation. He cautions readers not to mistake immediate rejection or rebuttal for failure, because hearts and minds can be changed over time, often quietly and without any formal acknowledgment. In everyday life, Lewis’ quote is a reminder that we should always speak with patience and integrity, trusting the power of words to leave a lasting and potentially life-changing impression, even if they’re dismissed in the moment.