A man is angry at a libel because it is false, but at a satire because it is true. Gilbert K. Chesterton More Quotes by Gilbert K. Chesterton More Quotes From Gilbert K. Chesterton It is the decisive people who have become civilised; it is the indecisive, otherwise called the higher sceptics, or the idealistic doubters, who have remained barbarians. Gilbert K. Chesterton barbarians doubters people No sceptical philosopher can ask any questions that may not equally be asked by a tired child on a hot afternoon. Gilbert K. Chesterton tired hot children The sceptics, like bees, give their one sting and die. Gilbert K. Chesterton skeptic bees giving It is quite an old-fashioned fallacy to suppose that our objection to scepticism is that it removes the discipline from life. Our objection to scepticism is that it removes the motive power. Materialism is not a thing which destroys mere restraint. Materialism itself is the great restraint. Gilbert K. Chesterton materialism discipline old-fashioned It is ludicrous to suppose that the more sceptical we are the more we see good in everything. It is clear that the more we are certain what good is, the more we shall see good in everything. Gilbert K. Chesterton skeptic clear certain Liberty has produced scepticism, and scepticism has destroyed liberty. The lovers of liberty thought they were leaving it unlimited, when they were only leaving it undefined. They thought they were only leaving it undefined, when they were really leaving it undefended. Gilbert K. Chesterton leaving liberty lovers The average businessman began to be agnostic, not so much because he did not know where he was, as because he wanted to forget. Many of the rich took to scepticism exactly as the poor took to drink; because it was a way out. Gilbert K. Chesterton agnostic average way The home is not the one tame place in the world of adventure. It is the one wild place in the world of rules and set tasks. Gilbert K. Chesterton home adventure inspirational When a man ceases to believe in god, he does not believe in nothing. He believes in everything. Gilbert K. Chesterton atheist men believe Shouldn't atheist have an equal obligation to explain pleasure in a world of randomness. Where does pleasure come from? Gilbert K. Chesterton atheism atheist doe The chief object of education is not to learn things but to unlearn things. Gilbert K. Chesterton learning education justice Exactly at the instant when hope ceases to be reasonable it begins to be useful. Gilbert K. Chesterton instant dont-give-up giving-up A large section of the intelligentsia seems wholly devoid of intelligence. Gilbert K. Chesterton sections intelligent seems Acceptance is the truest kinship with humanity. Gilbert K. Chesterton kinship acceptance humanity Silence is the unbearable repartee. Gilbert K. Chesterton unbearable silence-is silence Why be something to everybody when you can be everything to somebody? Gilbert K. Chesterton love-you Saint George he was for England, And before he killed the dragon he drank a pint of English ale out of an English flagon. Gilbert K. Chesterton saint-george dragons beer Man is at his tallest when he bows. Gilbert K. Chesterton bows faith men When you have really exhausted an experience you always reverence and love it. Gilbert K. Chesterton exhausted experience love The only words that ever satisfied me as describing nature are the terms used in fairy books, charm, spell, enchantment; they express the arbitrariness of the fact and its mystery. Gilbert K. Chesterton enchantment nature book
