But Christian Joy — Gloria — is of the same kind, only preeminently high, and pure, and great: because the ‘story’ is supremely great. The greatest artistry has ‘come true’. God is the master of angels and of Elves and of Men. Legend and History have fused. But the presence of the Greatest does not (in God’s Kingdom depress the small. Redeemed Man is still Man. Stories and Fantasies still go on, should go on. The Gospels have not abrogated Legends: they have hallowed them. As they have not abrogated motherhood or fatherhood, or supper. Horses have been ennobled by Pegasus: and still may be. For all we know, indeed we may fairly guess, in Fantasy we may actually be assisting in the evolution of Creation.

J.R.R. Tolkien (On Fairy-Stories, p. 246-247, manuscript B)