Finding words to describe G.K. Chesterton is a task that beggars the imagination. This 20th century Christian was an author, poet, philosopher, orator, journalist, and one of the greatest theologians of his age. He loved creating paradoxes out of proverbs and common sayings, and was described by George Bernard Shaw as, “A man of colossal genius.” What Chesterton is perhaps best remembered for though, is his wit. He had a sharp tongue, and a way of making shrewd observations about the world around him.
Chesterton’s greatest quotes always encompassed themes of faith, politics, creativity, and love. Even now, they stand as guideposts helping Christians navigate the thorniest of modern day issues.
20 Wise Quotes from G.K. Chesterton
“The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.”
“The most incredible thing about miracles is that they happen.”
“Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”
“The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of Conservatives is to prevent the mistakes from being corrected.”
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”
“There is the great lesson of 'Beauty and the Beast,' that a thing must be loved before it is lovable.”
“A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author.”
“If there were no God, there would be no atheists.”
“The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost.”
“An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.”
“Do not be so open-minded that your brains fall out.”
“Religious liberty might be supposed to mean that everybody is free to discuss religion. In practice it means that hardly anybody is allowed to mention it.”
“We are perishing for want of wonder, not for want of wonders.”
“It is absurd for the Evolutionist to complain that it is unthinkable for an admittedly unthinkable God to make everything out of nothing, and then pretend that it is more thinkable that nothing should turn itself into everything.”
“The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man.”
“Hope is the power of being cheerful in circumstances that we know to be desperate.”
“These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own.”
“Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.”
“Dear Sir: Regarding your article 'What's Wrong with the World?' I am. Yours truly, Chesterton.”
What about you? What’s your favorite quote from G.K. Chesterton?
*Published 6/5/2015
**Image via wikimedia commons.
This article is part of our larger Inspiring Quotes resource meant to encourage strengthen your faith. Visit our most popular quotes by well known Christians and theologians to find more inspiration. Remember, the Holy Spirit can work through us when we increase our faith and share it with us! Please pass along any quotes that touch your heart because you never know light you can shine on someone else’s dark day!
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