“One general description of madness, it seems to us, might be found in the statement that madness is a preference for the symbol over that which it represents.”
G.K. Chesterton, “Lunacy and Letters,” in Alberto Manguel, ed., On Lying in Bed and Other Essays by G.K. Chesterton
“Each man may have a glass to see things past whereby he may judge justly of things present, and wisely of things to come.”
Grafton’s Chronicle (1569), quoted in Robin Neillands, The Wars of the Roses
“For Fools Admire, but Men of Sense Approve”
Alexander Pope “An Essay on Criticism” in Essay on Man and Other Poems
“Remember: blue side up.”
Some “earthy words of wisdom” from a group of amateur pilots quoted by Michael Leo Donovan in Reader’s Digest Canadian Edition September 2005.
“History is the mighty Tower of Experience, which Time has built amidst the endless fields of bygone ages. It is no easy task to reach the top of this ancient structure and get the benefit of the full view. There is no elevator, but young feet are strong and it can be done.”
Hendrick Van Loon, The Story of Mankind
“There is a proof that common sense and the higher mysteries lie very close together. It is the fact that they are frequently and even continually absent simultaneously from the same person.”
G.K. Chesterton in Daily News April 2, 1904, quoted in Gilbert Magazine Vol. 8 # 6 4-5/05
“They say we offer simple answers to complex problems. Well, perhaps there is a simple answer – not an easy answer – but simple: If you and I have the courage to tell our elected officials that we want our national policy based on what we know in our hearts is morally right.”
Ronald Reagan “A Time for Choosing” (a.k.a. “The Speech”) October 27, 1964