Paradoxical Ortrhodoxy

Great sayings from Christianity’s master of irony.

His better-known sayings—like “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly”—hint at why philosopher and essayist G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) was considered a master of irony and paradox. This reputation was accompanied, however, by its own irony. “Critics were almost entirely complimentary to what they were pleased to call my brilliant paradoxes,” he once said, “until they discovered that I really meant what I said.” He became a formidable defender of classic Christianity, virtue, and decency, especially in Orthodoxy (1908).

The soul does not die by sin but by impenitence.—The Resurrection of Rome

The greatest act of faith that a man can perform is the act that we perform every night. We abandon our identity, we turn our soul and body into chaos and old night. We uncreate ourselves as if at the end of the world: for all practical purposes, we become dead men, in the sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection.—Lunacy and Letters

In the majority of sane human lives there is no problem of sex at all; there is no problem of marriage at all; there is no problem of temperament at all; for all these problems are dwarfed and rendered ridiculous by the standing problem of being a moderately honest man and paying the butcher.—A Handful of Authors

It may be a good thing to forget and forgive, but it is altogether too easy a trick to forget and be forgiven.—The Crimes of England

The true way to overcome evil in class distinctions is not to denounce them as revolutionists denounce them but to ignore them as children ignore them.—The Man Who Was Thursday

If I get drunk I shall forget dignity, but if I keep sober, I may still desire drink. Virtue has the heavy burden of knowledge; sin has often something of the levity of sinlessness.—The Glass Walking Stick

Blasphemy depends upon a philosophical conviction. Blasphemy depends on belief, and is fading with it. If anyone doubts this, let him set down seriously and try to think blasphemous thoughts about Thor.—Heretics

We do not know enough about the unknown to know that it is unknowable.—William Blake

Excerpted from The Quotable Chesterton: A Topical Compilation of the Wit, Wis dom and Satire of G. K. Chesterton (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1986).

Related Elsewhere

See today’s exclusive excerpt from Philip Yancey’s newly released Reaching for the Invisible God, ” Living With Furious Opposites .”

G.K. Chesterton’s writings are available on the web, including his religious essays, fiction, and poems, or take things slower with Chesterton day-by-day .

For pictures and descriptions of Chesterton’s appearance, click here .

Gilbert! is a magazine devoted to the ideas and orthodoxy of Chesterton. Read sample articles or read its mission statement .

The Quotable Chesterton and More Quotable Chesterton are available at the Christianity Online bookstore and other book retailers.

Copyright © 2000 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

The Weigh and the Truth: Christian dieting programs, like Gwen Shamblin's Weigh Down Diet, help believers pray off the pounds. But not all their teachings are healthy.

Cover Story

The Weigh and the Truth

The Art of Dodging Bullets

Is Satan Omnipresent?

A Deceptive Good

The Next Christian Men's Movement

The Case for Converting Kings

Inexcusable Silence

What Has Gender Got to Do with It?

Building Scientopolis

Why Christians Object to Scientology

From Clear to Christ

Your World: A Clear and Present Identity

Briefs: North America

Briefs: The World

Updates

Film: Suit Filed Over Omega Code

Public Education: Back to the Bible

’To Rise, It Stoops’

Quotations to Contemplate

In the Word: 'I've Been Through Things'

Virtue on a Broomstick

Ten-Commandments Judge Aims for High-Court Post

Gang Outreach: Pastors Work with Police to End Gun Violence

Perennial Diet Wars

Dumbing Down Marriage

Wire Story

The End of Church Zoning Disputes?

Excerpt

Living with Furious Opposites

The Christian Divorce Culture

Walking in the Truth

Rx for Gluttony

'Judge Us by Our Fruits'

Nigeria: Churches Challenge Islamic Law

Sunday School: What Would Andy Do?

Roman Catholics: Scholars Dispute Interpretation of Fatima Prophecy

Philippines: Lost in the 'Promised Land'

Netherlands: Keeping the Covenant

Radio: The Never-Ending Story

Is Reality Television Beyond Redemption?

Adventists Multiply in Asia

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