Gilbert K. Chesterton
Gilbert K. Chesterton
Gilbert Keith Chesterton, KC*SG, better known as G. K. Chesterton, was an English writer, poet, philosopher, dramatist, journalist, orator, lay theologian, biographer, and literary and art critic. Chesterton is often referred to as the "prince of paradox." Time magazine has observed of his writing style: "Whenever possible Chesterton made his points with popular sayings, proverbs, allegories—first carefully turning them inside out."...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth29 May 1874
play devil thanks
The Frenchman works until he can play. The American works until he can’t play; and then thanks the devil, his master, that he is donkey enough to die in harness. But the Englishman, as he has since become, works until he can pretend that he never worked at all.
law government madness
Government has become ungovernable; that is, it cannot leave off governing. Law has become lawless; that is, it cannot see where laws should stop. The chief feature of our time is the meekness of the mob and the madness of the government.
winning evil age
Evil always wins through the strength of its splendid dupes; and there has in all ages been a disastrous alliance between abnormal innocence and abnormal sin.
mad perfect drunk
Well, if I am not drunk, I am mad," replied Syme with perfect calm; "but I trust I can behave like a gentleman in either condition.
love men decline
Marriage is a duel to the death which no man of honour should decline.
love men pits
Women are the only realists; their whole object in life is to pit their realism against the extravagant, excessive, and occasionally drunken idealism of men.
love princess dragons
I have little doubt that when St. George had killed the dragon he was heartily afraid of the princess.
encouragement heart tragedy
He is a [sane] man who can have tragedy in his heart and comedy in his head.
men heaven earth
A mystic is a man who separates heaven and earth even if he enjoys them both.
humble fighting proud
There is a corollary to the conception of being too proud to fight. It is that the humble have to do most of the fighting.
mean vision progress
Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to fit the vision, instead we are always changing the vision.
smart men generous-man
Among the rich you will never find a really generous man even by accident. They may give their money away, but they will never give themselves away; they are egotistic, secretive, dry as old bones. To be smart enough to get all that money you must be dull enough to want it.
self criticism excess
What embitters the world is not excess of criticism, but an absence of self-criticism.
light tree lamps
Just at present you only see the tree by the light of the lamp. I wonder when you would ever see the lamp by the light of the tree.