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About this quote

What does it mean?
Boiling your head for a turnip is absurd, yet perhaps oddly useful.
In plain terms
A bizarre idea might hold unexpected value.
What can you take from it?
Don’t dismiss unconventional thoughts outright.

Where it applies

  • brainstorming
  • artistic experimentation
  • problem solving

Putting it to work

  • explore odd concepts
  • test unconventional methods

Questions to consider

  • When should we give a weird idea a chance?

Another view

Most absurd ideas remain useless after testing.

More from Gilbert Keith Chesterton

  1. Briefly, you can only find truth with logic if you have already found truth without it.

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  2. For children are innocent and love justice, while most of us are wicked and naturally prefer mercy.

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  3. 'Bosh,' he said, 'On what else is the whole world run but immediate impressions? What is more practical? My friend, the philosophy of this world may be founded…

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