Screwtape to Wormwood - Pleasures - C S Lewis

Screwtape is an experienced devil. His nephew, Wormwood, is at the beginning of his demonic career. Screwtape's job is to train and mentor Wormwood. Wormwood's first assignment is to insure a certain young man's destiny in hell.

My dear Wormwood,

....Never forget that when we are dealing with any pleasure in its healthy and normal form, we are, in a sense, on  the Enemy's ground.

I know we have won many a soul through pleasure.  All the same, it is His invention, not ours. He made all pleasures: all our research so far has not enabled us to produce one.

All we can do is encourage the humans to take the pleasures which our Enemy has produced, at times, or in ways, or in degrees, which He has forbidden.

Hence we always try to work away from the natural condition of any pleasure to that in which it is least natural, least redolent of its Maker, and least pleasurable.

An ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure is the formula.

It is more certain; and it's better style. To get to the man's soul and give him nothing in return--that is what gladdens Our Father's heart....

   --- From The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis