For us who live in cities Nature is not natural. Nature is supernatural. Just as monks watched and strove to get a glimpse of heaven, so we watch and strive to get a glimpse of earth.

—G. K. Chesterton

About G. K. Chesterton

Portrait of G. K. Chesterton

Gilbert Keith Chesterton (29 May 1874 – 14 June 1936) was an English Christian apologist writer. Chesterton's wit, paradoxical style, and defence of tradition made him a dominant figure in early 20th-century literature.

More quotations from G. K. Chesterton

There are no wise few. Every aristocracy that has ever existed has behaved, in all essential points, exactly like a small mob.

—G. K. Chesterton

wisdom aristocracy mobs

The men who really believe in themselves are all in lunatic asylums.

—G. K. Chesterton

humor insanity self-confidence

Don't ever take a fence down until you know the reason it was put up.

—G. K. Chesterton

reason defense borders

It is not bigotry to be certain we are right; but it is bigotry to be unable to imagine how we might possibly have gone wrong.

—G. K. Chesterton

A permanent possibility of selfishness arises from the mere fact of having a self, and not from any accidents of education or ill-treatment. And the weakness of all Utopias is this, that they take the greatest difficulty of man and assume it to be overcome, and then give an elaborate account of the overcoming of the smaller ones. They first assume that no man will

—G. K. Chesterton

More quotations tagged with “cities”

If you would be known, and not know, vegetate in a village; If you would know, and not be known, live in a city.

—Charles Caleb Colton

gossip reputation cities villages town

New York now leads the world's great cities in the number of people around whom you shouldn't make a sudden move.

—David Letterman

crime cities New York

I have never felt salvation in nature. I love cities above all.

—Michelangelo Antonioni