A blog dedicated to providing quotes by and posts relating to one of the most influential (and quotable!) authors of the twentieth century, G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936). If you do not know much about GKC, I suggest visiting the webpage of the American Chesterton Society as well as this wonderful Chesterton Facebook Page by a fellow Chestertonian

I also have created a list detailing examples of the influence of Chesterton if you are interested, that I work on from time to time.

(Moreover, for a list of short GKC quotes, I have created one here, citing the sources)

"...Stevenson had found that the secret of life lies in laughter and humility."

-Heretics (1905)
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Sunday, March 21, 2010

Pope John Paul 2 quoted Chesterton

I just discovered that in the "General Audience" of January 26, 2000, Pope John Paul II quoted Chesterton:

5. So, in beholding the glory of the Trinity in creation, man must contemplate, sing and rediscover wonder. In contemporary society people become indifferent "not for lack of wonders, but for lack of wonder" (G. K. Chesterton).


http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/audiences/2000/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_20000126_en.html


The quote is from Chesterton's book Tremendous Trifles (1909). The actual quote is:

The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder.

"Tremendous Trifles"

I've seen Pope Benedict XVI quote and praise GKC, and Pope John Paul I even write a "letter" to him (though, needless to say, Chesterton had long been dead at the time; the "letter" was only used as a literary form). And, of course, on the occasion of Chesterton's death, Pope Pius XI had given him the title "Defender of the Faith" (one of only 3 people, and the first in around 400 years, to receive such a title from a Pope, if I remember correctly). But this is the first time I knew that Pope John Paul II had ever quoted him. :-)

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