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G. K. Chesterton — Portrait after a picture by Ernest Herbert Mills (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.

The quotations of

G. K. Chesterton

English author and Christian apologist

1874–1936

94 quotes, most often on Christianity, God and Truth & Lies. Part of the Writers collection.

There runs a strange law through the length of human history — that men are continually tending to undervalue their environment, to undervalue their happiness, to undervalue themselves.
The Defendant (1901), “Introduction”
- Happiness
In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, 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.”
The Thing (1929), Ch. IV: “The Drift From Domesticity”
- Change
- Wisdom
Let the thunder break on man and beast and bird
And the lightning. It is something to have been.
Poems (1917), The Great Minimum
- Life & Death
For fear of the newspapers politicians are dull, and at last they are too dull even for the newspapers.
All Things Considered (1908)
- Journalism
- Politics

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