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
men mercy paradox
...the primary paradox that man is superior to all the things around him and yet is at their mercy.
men one-day strange
I don't deny," he said, "that there should be priests to remind men that they will one day die. I only say that at certain strange epochs it is necessary to have another kind of priests, called poets, actually to remind men that they are not dead yet.
children men doctors
It is cold anarchy to say that all men are to meddle in all men'smarriages. It is cold anarchy to say that any doctor may seize andsegregate anyone he likes. But it is not anarchy to say that a fewgreat hygienists might enclose or limit the life of all citizens,as nurses do with a family of children. It is not anarchy, it istyranny; but tyranny is a workable thing.
inspirational book reading
Literature is a luxury; fiction is a necessity.
heart men touching
Reason is always a kind of brute force; those who appeal to the head rather than the heart, however pallid and polite, are necessarily men of violence. We speak of 'touching' a man's heart, but we can do nothing to his head but hit it.
laughing violence levity
Moderate strength is shown in violence, supreme strength is shown in levity.
doors seriousness handle
humor can get in under the door while seriousness is still fumbling at the handle
book reading hero
A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author.
spiritual war men
Idolatry is committed, not merely by setting up false gods, but also by setting up false devils; by making men afraid of war or alcohol, or economic law, when they should be afraid of spiritual corruption and cowardice.
block car racing
The modern world is a crowd of very rapid racing cars all brought to a standstill and stuck in a block of traffic.
soul pleasure worthy
We can’t turn life into a pleasure. But we can choose such pleasures as are worthy of us and our immortal souls.
funny believe evil
I believe in getting into hot water; it keeps you clean.
christmas gratitude children
When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?
cities parks committees
I've been to every park in every city and not seen a statue to a committee.