Gilbert K. Chesterton

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. ”

Men always talk about the most important things to perfect strangers. In the perfect stranger we perceive man himself; the image of a God is not disguised by resemblances to an uncle or doubts of wisdom of a mustache. ”

Man is an exception, whatever else he is. If he is not the image of God, then he is a disease of the dust. If it is not true that a divine being fell, then we can only say that one of the animals went entirely off its head. ”

Large organization is loose organization. Nay, it would be almost as true to say that organization is always disorganization. ”

The family is the test of freedom; because the family is the only thing that the free man makes for himself and by himself. ”

I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite. ”

It is not funny that anything else should fall down; only that a man should fall down. Why do we laugh? Because it is a gravely religious matter: it is the Fall of Man. Only man can be absurd: for only man can be dignified. ”

Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions. ”

Coincidences are spiritual puns. ”

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. ”