Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes

From the standpoint of any sane person, the present problem of capitalist concentration is not only a question of law, but of criminal law, not to mention criminal lunacy.

5 years ago

Message Copied

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

The whole curse of the last century has been what is called the Swing of the Pendulum; that is, the idea that Man must go alternately from one extreme to the other. It is a shameful and even shocking fancy; it is the denial of the whole dignity of the mankind. When Man is alive he stands still. It is only when he is dead that he swings.

5 years ago

Message Copied

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

It is hard to make government representative when it is also remote.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Government Quotes , Hard Quotes

Always be comic in a tragedy. What the deuce else can you do?

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Tragedy Quotes , Deuces Quotes

The books that influence the world are those that it has not read.

5 years ago

Message Copied

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

It is much easier to write a good Times leading article than a good joke in Punch.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Writing Quotes , Good Times Quotes

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.

5 years ago

Message Copied

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

I wish we could sometimes love the characters in real life as we love the characters in romances. There are a great many human souls whom we should accept more kindly, and even appreciate more clearly, if we simply thought of them as people in a story.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Real Quotes , Character Quotes

the object of a new year is not that we should have a new year, but rather that we should have a new soul.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Inspiring Quotes , New Year Quotes

To desire money is much nobler than to desire success. Desiring money may mean desiring to return to your country, or marry the woman you love, or ransom your father from brigands. But desiring success must mean that you take an abstract pleasure in the unbrotherly act of distancing and disgracing other men.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Country Quotes , Money Quotes

The man who lives in a small community lives in a much larger world. He knows much more of the fierce variety and uncompromising divergences of men…In a large community, we can choose our companions. In a small community, our companions are chosen for us. Thus in all extensive and highly civilized society groups come into existence founded upon sympathy, and shut out the real world more sharply than the gates of a monastery. There is nothing really narrow about the clan; the thing which is really narrow is the clique.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Real Quotes , Men 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 world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Nature Quotes , Inspiration Quotes

Without education we are in a horrible and deadly danger of taking educated people seriously.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Inspirational Quotes , Education Quotes

Every man who will not have softening of the heart must at last have softening of the brain

5 years ago

Message Copied

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

All but the hard hearted man must be torn with pity for this pathetic dilemma of the rich man, who has to keep the poor man just stout enough to do the work and just thin enough to have to do it.

5 years ago

Message Copied

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

In the struggle for existence, it is only on those who hang on for ten minutes after all is hopeless, that hope begins to dawn.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Truth Quotes , Struggle Quotes

No man must be superior to the things that are common to men.... Not only are we all in the same boat, but we are all seasick.

5 years ago

Message Copied

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

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.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Nature Quotes , Wine Quotes

Every high civilization decays by forgetting obvious things.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Gilbert K. Chesterton Quotes , Obvious Things Quotes , Civilization Quotes