I came to the conclusion that the optimist thought everything good except the pessimist, and that the pessimist thought everything bad, except himself. Gilbert K. Chesterton More Quotes by Gilbert K. Chesterton More Quotes From Gilbert K. Chesterton The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost. Gilbert K. Chesterton inspirationallovefriendship At the back of our brains is a blaze of astonishment at our own existence. The object of the artistic and spiritual life is to dig for this sunrise of wonder. Gilbert K. Chesterton spiritualbrainart When belief in God becomes difficult, the tendency is to turn away from Him; but in heaven's name to what? Gilbert K. Chesterton beliefnamesheaven The whole secret of mysticism is this: that man can understand everything by the help of something he cannot understand. Gilbert K. Chesterton secrethelpingmen One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak. Gilbert K. Chesterton mountain-peaksadversitynature The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him. Gilbert K. Chesterton passionhatelife The word 'good' has many meanings. For example, if a man were to shoot his grandmother at a range of five hundred yards, I should call him a good shot, but not necessarily a good man. Gilbert K. Chesterton good-mangrandmothermen It [feminism] is mixed up with a muddled idea that women are free when they serve their employers but slaves when they help their husbands. Gilbert K. Chesterton feminismhusbandideas It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged. Gilbert K. Chesterton terriblepoliticianpolitical The most incredible thing about miracles is that they happen. Gilbert K. Chesterton incrediblesmiraclehappens But the truth is that it is only by believing in God that we can ever criticise the Government. Once abolish the God, and the Government becomes the God. Gilbert K. Chesterton russiagovernmentbelieve But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun.; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic monotony that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never gotten tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we. Gilbert K. Chesterton strongmorningfather The modern habit of saying "This is my opinion, but I may be wrong" is entirely irrational. If I say that it may be wrong, I say that is not my opinion. The modern habit of saying "Every man has a different philosophy; this is my philosophy and it suits me" – the habit of saying this is mere weak-mindedness. A cosmic philosophy is not constructed to fit a man; a cosmic philosophy is constructed to fit a cosmos. A man can no more possess a private religion than he can possess a private sun and moon. Gilbert K. Chesterton moonmenphilosophy If there were no God, there would be no atheists. Gilbert K. Chesterton christian-inspirationalatheistgod There is less difference than many suppose between the ideal Socialist system, in which the big businesses are run by the State, and the present Capitalist system, in which the State is run by the big businesses. Gilbert K. Chesterton differencesstatesrunning Unless a man becomes the enemy of an evil, he will not even become its slave but rather its champion. Gilbert K. Chesterton championevilmen I've searched all the parks in all the cities - and found no statues of Committees. Gilbert K. Chesterton parkscitiesinspirational Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly. Gilbert K. Chesterton devilangelfun No man can break any of the Ten Commandments. He can only break himself against them. Gilbert K. Chesterton tenbreakmen Modern intelligence won't accept anything on authority. But it will accept anything without authority. Gilbert K. Chesterton modernacceptingauthority
