In C.S. Lewis's "The Screwtape Letters," the notion is presented that even minor sins can lead a person away from goodness and ultimately toward destruction. It emphasizes that the cumulative impact of these small wrongdoings can be just as dangerous as major sins, like murder, if they cause a gradual drift away from virtue. The idea is that seemingly harmless activities, such as playing cards, can have significant consequences over time.

Lewis portrays this descent into moral decline as a slow and insidious process. The "road to Hell" is described as a gentle slope, making it easy for individuals to go unnoticed while straying further from righteousness. Without clear markers or abrupt changes, it becomes difficult for one to recognize their gradual fall into a darker existence, illustrating how complacency can lead to dire outcomes.