K. Chesterton
K. Chesterton
strong men garden
A man's minor actions and arrangements ought to be free, flexible, creative; the things that should be unchangeable are his principles, his ideals. But with us the reverse is true; our views change constantly; but our lunch does not change. Now, I should like men to have strong and rooted conceptions, but as for their lunch, let them have it sometimes in the garden, sometimes in bed, sometimes on the roof, sometimes in the top of a tree. Let them argue from the same first principles, but let them do it in a bed, or a boat, or a balloon.
baby children lying
The most unfathomable schools and sages have never attained to the gravity which dwells in the eyes of a baby of three months old. It is the gravity of astonishment at the universe, and astonishment at the universe is not mysticism, but a transcendent common-sense. The fascination of children lies in this: that with each of them all things are remade, and the universe is put again upon its trial.
democracy noses may
Democracy is like blowing your nose. You may not do it well, but it's something you ought to do yourself.
men secret sublime
All science, even the divine science, is a sublime detective story. Only it is not set to detect why a man is dead; but the darker secret of why he is alive.
running men thinking
Civilization has run on ahead of the soul of man, and is producing faster than he can think and give thanks.
philosophical thinking doubt
Blasphemy is an artistic effect, because blasphemy depends upon a philosophical conviction. Blasphemy depends upon belief and is fading with it. If any one doubts this, let him sit down seriously and try to think blasphemous thoughts about Thor.
literature innocence gullibility
The greenhorn is the ultimate victor in everything; it is he that gets the most out of life.
health men views
Man does not live by soap alone; and hygiene, or even health, is not much good unless you can take a healthy view of it or, better still, feel a healthy indifference to it.
forgiveness im-sorry hurt
A stiff apology is a second insult... The injured party does not want to be compensated because he has been wronged; he wants to be healed because he has been hurt.
art lying long
Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling.
happiness real pleasure-seeking
The real pleasure-seeking is the combination of luxury and austerity in such a way that the luxury can really be felt.
leadership thank-you gratitude
I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.
funny business humor
Journalism largely consists of saying 'Lord Jones is Dead' to people who never knew that Lord Jones was alive.
fashion literature fame
The present condition of fame is merely fashion.