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Orthodoxy
In this light I find the history of Christianity, and even of its Hebrew origins, quite practical and clear. It does not trouble me to be told that the Hebrew god was one among many. I know he was, without any research to tell me so. Jehovah and Baal looked equally important, just as the sun and the moon looked the same size. It is only slowly that
... See moreG. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton • Orthodoxy
It is the new rulers, the capitalist or the editor, who really hold up the modern world. There is no fear that a modern king will attempt to override the constitution; it is more likely that he will ignore the constitution and work behind its back; he will take no advantage of his kingly power; it is more likely that he will take advantage of his k
... See moreG. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton • Orthodoxy
With a long and sustained tug we have attempted to pull the mitre off pontifical man; and his head has come off with it.
G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton • Orthodoxy
the argument that all that we call divine began in some darkness and terror. When I did attempt to examine the foundations of this modern idea I simply found that there were none. Science knows nothing whatever about pre-historic man; for the excellent reason that he is pre-historic. A few professors choose to conjecture that such things as human s
... See moreG. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton • Orthodoxy
As a politician, he will cry out that war is a waste of life, and then, as a philosopher, that all life is waste of time.
G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton • Orthodoxy
The only intelligible sense that progress or advance can have among men, is that we have a definite vision, and that we wish to make the whole world like that vision.
G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton • Orthodoxy
And the more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild.
G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton • Orthodoxy
I merely remark here on the fact that both cases have the same kind of completeness and the same kind of incompleteness. You can explain a man's detention at Hanwell by an indifferent public by saying that it is the crucifixion of a god of whom the world is not worthy. The explanation does explain. Similarly you may explain the order in the univers
... See moreG. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton • Orthodoxy
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. Life is not an illogicality; yet it is a trap for logicians.