G. K. Chesterton ( 10 of 64 )
All conservatism is based upon the idea that if you leave things alone you leave them as they are. But read more
All conservatism is based upon the idea that if you leave things alone you leave them as they are. But you do not. If you leave a thing alone you leave it to a torrent of change.
The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should read more
The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul
Cruelty is, perhaps, the worst kid of sin. Intellectual cruelty is certainly the worst kind of cruelty.
Cruelty is, perhaps, the worst kid of sin. Intellectual cruelty is certainly the worst kind of cruelty.
We say, not lightly but very literally, that the truth has made us free. They say that it makes us read more
We say, not lightly but very literally, that the truth has made us free. They say that it makes us so free that it cannot be the truth. To them it is like believing in fairyland to believe in such freedom as we enjoy. It is like believing in men with wings to entertain the fancy of men with wills. It is like accepting a fable about a squirrel in conversation with a mountain to believe in a man who is free to ask or a God who is free to answer. This is a manly and a rational negation, for which I for one shall always show respect. But I decline to show any respect for those who first of all clip the bird and cage the squirrel, rivet the chains and refuse the freedom, close all the doors of the cosmic prison on us with a clang of eternal iron, tell us that our emancipation is a dream and our dungeon a necessity; and then calmly turn round and tell us they have a freer thought and a more liberal theology.
Tradition may be defined as an extension of the franchise. Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all read more
Tradition may be defined as an extension of the franchise. Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead.
Journalism is popular, but it is popular mainly as fiction. Life is one world, and life seen in the newspapers read more
Journalism is popular, but it is popular mainly as fiction. Life is one world, and life seen in the newspapers is another. - "On the Cryptic and the Elliptic", 1908.
'My country, right or wrong,' is a thing that no patriot would think of saying except in a desperate case. read more
'My country, right or wrong,' is a thing that no patriot would think of saying except in a desperate case. It is like saying, 'My mother, drunk or sober.'
Democracy means government by the uneducated, while aristocracy means government by the badly educated.
Democracy means government by the uneducated, while aristocracy means government by the badly educated.
Journalism largely consists of saying "Lord Jones is Dead" to people who never knew that Lord Jones was alive.
Journalism largely consists of saying "Lord Jones is Dead" to people who never knew that Lord Jones was alive.
Wit is a sword; it is meant to make people feel the point as well as see it.
Wit is a sword; it is meant to make people feel the point as well as see it.
