I believe in preaching to the converted; for I have generally found that the converted do not understand their own religion. Gilbert K. Chesterton More Quotes by Gilbert K. Chesterton More Quotes From Gilbert K. Chesterton [Consider] a fence or gate erected across a road] The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, "I don't see the use of this; let us clear it away." To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: "If you don't see the use of it, I certainly won't let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it." Gilbert K. Chesterton going-away intelligent thinking These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own. Gilbert K. Chesterton morality christian religion The men who really believe in themselves are all in lunatic asylums. Gilbert K. Chesterton army military believe Truth, of course, must of necessity be stranger than fiction, for we have made fiction to suit ourselves. Gilbert K. Chesterton suits truth fiction A madman is not someone who has lost his reason but someone who has lost everything but his reason Gilbert K. Chesterton lost-everything reason lost Drink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable. Gilbert K. Chesterton alcohol literature drinking The essence of all pantheism, evolutionism, and modern cosmic religion is really this proposition: that nature is our mother. Unfortunately, if you regard Nature as a mother, you discover she is a step-mother. Gilbert K. Chesterton essence mother steps Paradox - Truth standing on her head to get attention. Gilbert K. Chesterton paradox standing attention I should say that psycho-analysis was confession without absolution. Gilbert K. Chesterton confession psycho analysis If man is not the image of God, then he is a disease of the dust. Gilbert K. Chesterton disease dust men As for the general view that the Church was discredited by the War—they might as well say that the Ark was discredited by the Flood. When the world goes wrong, it proves rather that the Church is right. The Church is justified, not because her children do not sin, but because they do. Gilbert K. Chesterton views war children Christendom has had a series of revolutions and in each one of them Christianity has died. Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it had a God who knew the way out of the grave. Gilbert K. Chesterton revolution christianity way If you argue with a madman, it is extremely probable that you will get the worst of it; for in many ways his mind moves all the quicker for not being delayed by the things that go with good judgment. Gilbert K. Chesterton christian-inspirational mind moving Self-denial is the test and definition of self-government. Gilbert K. Chesterton government self culture Latter-day scepticism is fond of calling itself progressive; but scepticism is really reactionary. Scepticism goes back; it attempts to unsettle what has already been settled. Instead of trying to break up new fields with its plough, it simply tries to break up the plough. Gilbert K. Chesterton fields calling trying The triangle of truisms, of father, mother and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it. Gilbert K. Chesterton mother father children Science must not impose any philosophy, any more than the telephone must tell us what to say. Gilbert K. Chesterton telephones philosophy The real pleasure-seeking is the combination of luxury and austerity in such a way that the luxury can really be felt. Gilbert K. Chesterton pleasure-seeking real happiness A man must be prepared not only to be a martyr, but to be a fool. It is absurd to say that a man is ready to toil and die for his convictions if he is not even ready to wear a wreathe around his head for them. Gilbert K. Chesterton toil fool men We lose our bearings entirely by speaking of the 'lower classes' when we mean humanity minus ourselves. Gilbert K. Chesterton humanity class mean
