G

Gilbert K. Chesterton

73 quotes

G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) was an English writer, philosopher, and literary critic known for his prolific output, quick wit, and paradoxical style of argument. The creator of the beloved Father Brown detective stories, Chesterton wrote on theology, philosophy, and social issues with a joyful exuberance that earned him the nickname "the prince of paradox."

“Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to that arrogant oligarchy who merely happen to be walking around.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Politics

All Quotes by Gilbert K. Chesterton

“The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Love

“The only defensible war is a war of defense.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

War

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Happiness

“A good novel tells us the truth about its hero but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Good

“I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Men

“If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

God

“Science in the modern world has many uses its chief use, however, is to provide long words to cover the errors of the rich.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Science

“Brave men are all vertebrates they have their softness on the surface and their toughness in the middle.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Men

“In matters of truth the fact that you don't want to publish something is, nine times out of ten, a proof that you ought to publish it.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Truth

“Men feel that cruelty to the poor is a kind of cruelty to animals. They never feel that it is an injustice to equals nay it is treachery to comrades.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Men

“Democracy means government by the uneducated, while aristocracy means government by the badly educated.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Government

“Music with dinner is an insult both to the cook and the violinist.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Music

“Experience which was once claimed by the aged is now claimed exclusively by the young.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Experience

“Once I planned to write a book of poems entirely about the things in my pocket. But I found it would be too long and the age of the great epics is past.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Age

“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?”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

God

“One sees great things from the valley only small things from the peak.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Great

“Love means to love that which is unlovable or it is no virtue at all.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Love

“Art consists of limitation. The most beautiful part of every picture is the frame.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Art

“The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Travel

“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.”

— Gilbert K. Chesterton

Alone