The Man Who Knew Too Much

“Modern intelligence won't accept anything on authority. But it will accept anything without authority.””

— G. K. Chesterton

“You know I always liked you," said Fisher, quietly, "but I also respect you, which is not always the same thing. You may possibly guess that I like a good many people I don't respect. Perhaps it is my tragedy, perhaps it is my fault. But you are very different, and I promise you this: that I will never try to keep you as somebody to be liked, at the price of your not being respected.””

— G. K. Chesterton

“But it's my reading of human nature that a man will cheat in his trade, but not in his hobby.””

— G. K. Chesterton

“We’re all really dependent in nearly everything, and we all make a fuss about being independent in something.””

— G. K. Chesterton

“I know too much," he said. "That's what's the matter with me. That's what's the matter with all of us, and the whole show; we know too much. Too much about one another; too much about ourselves.””

— G. K. Chesterton

“Harold March was the sort of man who knows everything about politics, and nothing about politicians. He also knew a great deal about art, letters, philosophy, and general culture; about almost everything, indeed, except the world he was living in.””

— G. K. Chesterton

“Something lay in the shadow at the foot of the ridge, as stiff as the stick of the fallen rocket; and the man who knew too much knew what is worth knowing.””

— G. K. Chesterton

“Believe me, you never know the best about men till you know the worst about them.””

— G. K. Chesterton

“Besides, if we want poor people to respect property we must give them some property to respect.””

— G. K. Chesterton