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. Gilbert K. Chesterton More Quotes by Gilbert K. Chesterton More Quotes From Gilbert K. Chesterton Science only means knowledge; and for [Greek] ancients it did only mean knowledge. Thus the favorite science of the Greeks was Astronomy, because it was as abstract as Algebra. ... We may say that the great Greek ideal was to have no use for useful things. The Slave was he who learned useful things; the Freeman was he who learned useless things. This still remains the ideal of many noble men of science, in the sense they do desire truth as the great Greeks desired it; and their attitude is an external protest against vulgarity of utilitarianism. Gilbert K. Chesterton learning attitude mean Modern science is necessarily a double-edged tool, a tool that cuts both ways. ... There is no doubt that a Zeppelin is a wonderful thing; but that did not prevent it from becoming a horrible thing. Gilbert K. Chesterton cutting doubt science To mix science up with philosophy is only to produce a philosophy that has lost all its ideal value and a science that has lost all its practical value. It is for my private physician to tell me whether this or that food will kill me. It is for my private philosopher to tell me whether I ought to be killed. Gilbert K. Chesterton philosophy science death [There is] one distinctly human thing - the story. There can be as good science about a turnip as about a man. ... [Or philosophy, or theology] ...There can be, without any question at all, as good higher mathematics about a turnip as about a man. But I do not think, though I speak in a manner somewhat tentative, that there could be as good a novel written about a turnip as a man. Gilbert K. Chesterton men philosophy science There is no great harm in the theorist who makes up a new theory to fit a new event. But the theorist who starts with a false theory and then sees everything as making it come true is the most dangerous enemy of human reason. Gilbert K. Chesterton events science enemy Modern masters of science are much impressed with the need of beginning all inquiry with a fact. The ancient masters of religion were quite equally impressed with that necessity. They began with the fact of sin-a fact as practical as potatoes. Whether or not man could be washed in miraculous waters, there was no doubt at any rate that he wanted washing. Gilbert K. Chesterton water men science Men can construct a science with very few instruments, or with very plain instruments; but no one on earth could construct a science with unreliable instruments. A man might work out the whole of mathematics with a handful of pebbles, but not with a handful of clay which was always falling apart into new fragments, and falling together into new combinations. A man might measure heaven and earth with a reed, but not with a growing reed. Gilbert K. Chesterton work-out men fall The real trouble with this world of ours is not that it is an unreasonable world, nor even that it is a reasonable one. The commonest kind of trouble is that it is nearly reasonable, but not quite. ... It looks just a little more mathematical and regular than it is; its exactitude is obvious, but its inexactitude is hidden; its wilderness lies in wait. Gilbert K. Chesterton real waiting lying Drink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable. Never drink when you are wretched without it, or you will be like the grey-faced gin-drinker in the slum; but drink when you would be happy without it, and you will be like the laughing peasant of Italy. Never drink because you need it, for this is rational drinking, and the way to death and hell. But drink because you do not need it, for this is irrational drinking, and the ancient health of the world. Gilbert K. Chesterton would-be drinking laughing It is the root of all religion that a man knows that he is nothing in order to thank God that he is something. Gilbert K. Chesterton roots men order At least five times, with the Arian and the Albigensian, with the Humanist skeptic, after Voltaire and after Darwin, the Christian Faith has to all appearance, gone to the dogs? But, in each of these five cases, it was the dog that died. Gilbert K. Chesterton christian faith dog There is something to be said for every error; but, whatever may be said for it, the most important thing to be said about it is that it is erroneous. Gilbert K. Chesterton errors important mistake Contemporary society has become dry, not for lack of wonders but for lack of wonder. Gilbert K. Chesterton dry wonder integrity History is not a toboggan slide, but a road to be reconsidered and even retraced Gilbert K. Chesterton slides history Art is born when the temporary touches the eternal. Gilbert K. Chesterton eternal born art ...it is not necessary to the child to awaken to the sense of the strange and humorous by giving a man a luminous nose...to the child it is sufficiently strange and humorous to have a nose at all. Gilbert K. Chesterton humorous men children There are a good many fools who call me a friend, and also a good many friends who call me a fool. Gilbert K. Chesterton funny-friendship good-man fool We must be clear about what we want to paint. This adds a further principle to our previous list of principles. We have said we must be fond of this world, even in order to change it. Gilbert K. Chesterton society order world You could compile the worst book in the world entirely out of selected passages from the best writers in the world. Gilbert K. Chesterton writing book world The wine they drink in Paradise Gilbert K. Chesterton paradise drink wine
