3 Gilbert Keith Chesterton Quotes on Understanding

Gilbert Keith Chesterton quotes on understanding

190. The thing I hate about an argument is that it always interrupts a discussion.

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

     Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

197. According to The American Chesterton Society, this quotation is actually a John F. Kennedy paraphrase of a passage from The Thing (1929), and goes like this: 'In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, 'I don't see the use of this; let us clear it away.' To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: 'If you don't see the use of it, I certainly won't let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.'