That is the blunder of the cynics when they say that idealists do not succeed. Idealists, consistent idealists, succeed much better than anybody else, because no man can be at ease in the presence of his own negelcted ideal. Men are always fidgeting and shifting a little nearer to the high seat where the fanatic sits. When once a man has been called an impracticable visionary, he is practically bound to be a success. The moment a thing has been definitely called impossible, something sporting in the soul of man immediately takes the bet and resolves to bring the thing about.
-June 29, 1912, Illustrated London News
[I remember coming across this quote, at least the part in the title, a while back on another Chesterton site, though at the moment I cannot remember which one so as to give credit, but...]
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