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Quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton

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Gilbert K. Chesterton
Gilbert K. Chesterton

Gilbert K. Chesterton was an English writer, critic, and theologian, born on May 29, 1874, and died on June 14, 1936. Known for his unique literary style and profound philosophical thinking, Chesterton's works spanned a variety of genres, including novels, poetry, drama, and criticism. more

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“The modern world is not evil; in some ways the modern world is far too good. It is full of wild and wasted virtues. When a religious scheme is shattered (as Christianity was shattered at the Reformation), it is not merely the vices that are let loose. The vices are, indeed, let loose, and they wander and do damage. But the virtues are let loose also; and the virtues wander more wildly, and the virtues do more terrible damage. The modern world is full of the old Christian virtues gone mad. The virtues have gone mad because they have been isolated from each other and are wandering alone.”

WorldWayHas BeensChristianEvilReligiousChristianityGoneVirtueModernTerribleMadVicesWanderDamageIsolatedSchemesModern WorldShatteredReformation
Book:The Essential Gilbert K. Chesterton
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“When people impute special vices to the Christian Church, they seem entirely to forget that the world (which is the only other thing there is) has these vices much more. The Church has been cruel; but the world has been much more cruel. The Church has plotted; but the world has plotted much more. The Church has been superstitious; but it has never been so superstitious as the world is when left to itself.”

PeopleWorldHas BeensSeemsChristianLeftChurchForgetSpecialVicesSuperstitiousChristian Church
Author:Gilbert K. Chesterton
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“The modern world is full of the old Christian virtues gone mad. The virtues have gone mad because they have been isolated from each other and are wandering alone. Thus some scientists care for truth; and their truth is pitiless. Thus some humanitarians only care for pity; and their pity (I am sorry to say) is often untruthful.”

WorldHas BeensCareChristianGoneVirtueModernTruth IsScientistMadSorryPityWanderIsolatedModern WorldI Am SorryAm Sorry
Book:The Essential Gilbert K. Chesterton
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“The great ideals of the past failed not by being outlived (which must mean over-lived), but by not being lived enough. Mankind has not passed through the Middle Ages. Rather mankind has retreated from the Middle Ages in reaction and rout. The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.”

MeanHas BeensEnoughAgeChristianPastFoundLeftDifficultMiddleMankindIdealsReactionsMiddle AgesGreat Idea
Author:Gilbert K. Chesterton
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“Instead of looking at books and pictures about the New Testament I looked at the New Testament. There I found an account, not in the least of a person with his hair parted in the middle or his hands clasped in appeal, but of an extraordinary being with lips of thunder and acts of lurid decision, flinging down tables, casting out devils, passing with the wild secrecy of the wind from mountain isolation to a sort of dreadful demagogy; a being who often acted like an angry god — and always like a god.”

PersonsBookHandsFoundDecisionMiddleWindHairMountainDevilAccountsTablesAngryExtraordinaryLipsPassingPassingsAppealsIsolationTestamentThunderCastingSecrecyNew TestamentDemagogy
Book:The Essential Gilbert K. Chesterton
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