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
mean office politics
When [a politician] is in opposition, he is an expert on the means to some end; and when he is in office he is an expert on the obstacles to it. In short, when he is impotent he proves to us that the thing is easy; and when he is omnipotent he proves that it is impossible.
nature wine men
For us who live in cities Nature is not natural. Nature is supernatural. Just as monks watched and strove to get a glimpse of heaven, so we watch and strive to get a glimpse of earth. It is as if men had cake and wine every day but were sometimes allowed common bread.
leadership firsts authority
If a rhinoceros were to enter this restaurant now, there is no denying he would have great power here. But I should be the first to rise and assure him that he had no authority whatever.
hope ideas giving
There is one thing which gives radiance to everything. It is the idea of something around the corner.
past men knowing
The disadvantage of men not knowing the past is that they do not know the present. History is a hill or high point of vantage, from which alone men see the town in which they live or the age in which they are living.
past history certain
We can be almost certain of being wrong about the future, if we are wrong about the past.
time men orthodox
A man must be orthodox upon most things, or he will never even have time to preach his own heresy.
time sleep thinking
Employers will give time to eat, time to sleep; they are in terror of a time to think.
time men young
No man knows he is young while he is young.
anger party fury
The full potentialities of human fury cannot be reached until a friend of both parties tactfully interferes.
anger fighting names
People seem to fight about things very unsuitable for fighting. They make a frightful noise in support of very quiet things. They knock each other about in the name of very fragile things.
christian joy secret
Joy, which was the small publicity of the pagan, is the gigantic secret of the Christian.
wise silly princess
The wise old fairy tales never were so silly as to say that the prince and the princess lived peacefully ever afterwards. The fairy tales said that the prince and princess lived happily ever afterwards; and so they did. They lived happily, although it is very likely that from time to time they threw the furniture at each other.
attention paradox standing
Paradox - Truth standing on her head to get attention.