Who said “The safest road to hell is the gradual one -- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without…”?

Verified

C. S. Lewis. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Screwtape Letters (1942), Letter XII

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“The safest road to hell is the gradual one -- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
VerifiedThe Screwtape Letters (1942), Letter XII · evidenceHell

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Screwtape Letters (1942), Letter XII.

APA

Lewis, C. S. (n.d.). The safest road to hell is the gradual one -- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17159-the-safest-road-to-hell-is-the-gradual/

MLA

Lewis, C. S. “The safest road to hell is the gradual one -- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17159-the-safest-road-to-hell-is-the-gradual/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Lewis, C. S. “The safest road to hell is the gradual one -- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17159-the-safest-road-to-hell-is-the-gradual/.