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About this quote

What does it mean?
Chesterton satirizes intellectuals, suggesting that relying on reason often reveals a lack of true wisdom.
In plain terms
People who think they are smart often prove they are not when they start overthinking.
What can you take from it?
True wisdom is not just about using reason logically.

Where it applies

  • debates
  • academic settings
  • social commentary

Putting it to work

  • questioning experts
  • valuing common sense

Questions to consider

  • When does reasoning help versus hinder understanding?

Another view

This ignores that reason is essential for progress despite its misuse.

More from Gilbert Keith Chesterton

  1. And it is always the humble man who talks too much; the proud man watches himself too closely.

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  2. A man must be orthodox upon most things, or he will never even have time to preach his own heresy.

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  3. Shall I tell you the secret of the whole world? It is that we have only known the back of the world. We see everything from behind, and it looks brutal. That i…

    Permalink to quote #14

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