Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes

When it wishes anything done which is really serious, it collects twelve of the ordinary men standing round. The same thing was done, if I remember right, by the Founder of Christianity.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Men Quotes , Law Quotes

A child's instinct is almost perfect in the matter of fighting. The child's hero is always the man or boy who defends himself suddenly and splendidly against aggression.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Children Quotes , Hero Quotes

A new philosophy generally means in practice the praise of some old vice.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Philosophy Quotes , Mean Quotes

The cause which is blocking all progress today is the subtle scepticism which whispers in a million ears that things are not good enough to be worth improving. If the world is good we are revolutionaries, if the world is evil we must be conservatives. These essays, futile as they are considered as serious literature, are yet ethically sincere, since they seek to remind men that things must be loved first and improved afterwards.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Block Quotes , Men Quotes

Big Business and State Socialism are very much alike, especially Big Business.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Business Quotes , Socialism Quotes

People generally quarrel because they cannot argue.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Fear Quotes , People Quotes

It is quite easy to see why a legend is treated, and ought to be treated, more respectfully than a book of history. The legend is generally made by the majority of people in the village, who are sane. The book is generally written by the one man in the village who is mad.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Book Quotes , Men Quotes

I was planning to go into architecture. But when I arrived, architecture was filled up. Acting was right next to it, so I signed up for acting instead.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Filled Up Quotes , Acting Quotes

The historic glory of America lies in the fact that it is the one nation that was founded like a church. That is, it was founded on a faith that was not merely summed up after it had exited, but was defined before it existed.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Lying Quotes , America Quotes

Wait and see whether the religion of the Servile State is not in every case what I say: the encouragement of small virtues supporting capitalism, the discouragement of the huge virtues that defy it.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Encouragement Quotes , Waiting Quotes

The thing I hate about an argument is that it always interrupts a discussion.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Hate Quotes , Argument Quotes

The triangle of truisms, of father, mother and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Mother Quotes , Children Quotes

The modern world... has no notion except that of simplifying something by destroying nearly everything.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Simplicity Quotes , World Quotes

The timidity of the child or the savage is entirely reasonable; they are alarmed at this world, because this world is a very alarming place. They dislike being alone because it is verily and indeed an awful idea to be alone. Barbarians fear the unknown for the same reason that Agnostics worship it - because it is a fact.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Children Quotes , Fear Quotes

Business, especially big business, is now organized like an army. It is, as some would say, a sort of mild militarism without bloodshed; as I say, a militarism without the military virtues.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Business Quotes , Military Quotes

In our time the blasphemies are threadbare. Pessimism is now patently, as it always was essentially, more commonplace than piety. Profanity is now more than an affectation - it is a convention. The curse against God is Exercise I in the primer of minor poetry.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Exercise Quotes , Pessimism Quotes

Any man who preaches real love is bound to beget hate. It is as true of democratic fraternity as a divine love; sham love ends in compromise and common philosophy; but real love has always ended in bloodshed.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Hate Quotes , Philosophy Quotes

The most incredible thing about miracles is that they happen.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Miracle Quotes , Incredibles Quotes

Thoughts on the Merits of Work The worst of work nowadays is what happens to people when they cease to work.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Retirement Quotes , People Quotes

No animal ever invented anything as bad as drunkenness - or so good as drink.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Drinking Quotes , Beer Quotes