The Logical Vegetarian
From The Flying Inn, a satirical romp in which Chesterton inveighs against the forces of dreary and oppressive modernity
The Logical Vegetarian Read More »
Gloria in Profundis
The unlikely and startling truth of the Incarnation
Gloria in Profundis Read More »
The Song of the Strange Ascetic
Chesterton can’t understand the heathen who isn’t even having any fun
The Song of the Strange Ascetic Read More »
Tolstoy and the Cult of Simplicity
A Chesterton essay on the work and thought of Leo Tolstoy
Tolstoy and the Cult of Simplicity Read More »
Why I Believe in Christianity
An explanation of why I think a religious philosophy necessary and why I think Christianity the best religious philosophy. – G.K. Chesterton
Why I Believe in Christianity Read More »
Why I Am A Catholic
The Church is not merely armed against the heresies of the past or even of the present, but equally against those of the future. – G.K. Chesterton
Why I Am A Catholic Read More »
Skepticism and Spiritualism
An impartial person is a good judge of many things, but not of all. He is not (for instance) a good judge of what it feels like to be partial.
Skepticism and Spiritualism Read More »
St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas confronts other creeds of good and evil, without at all denying evil, with a theory of two levels of good.
St. Thomas Aquinas Read More »
The Religious Aim of Education
The deepest of all desires for knowledge is the desire to know what the world is for and what we are for.
The Religious Aim of Education Read More »
Miracles and Modern Civilisation
For, obviously, the mere fact that a thing happens seldom, under odd circumstances and with no explanation within our knowledge, is no proof that it is against natural law.
Miracles and Modern Civilisation Read More »
Introduction to the Book of Job
The modern habit of saying, “This is my opinion, but I may be wrong” is entirely irrational.
Introduction to the Book of Job Read More »
Buddhism and Christianity
It is no disgrace to Christianity, it is no disgrace to any great religion, that its counsels of perfection have not made every single person perfect.
Buddhism and Christianity Read More »
The Revival of Philosophy – Why?
Why the world needs metaphysics
The Revival of Philosophy – Why? Read More »
The Philosophy of Islands
To isolate a thing is to identify it
The Philosophy of Islands Read More »
Philosophy for the Schoolroom
The sanities and certainties of human free thought
Philosophy for the Schoolroom Read More »
On Thoughtless Remarks
The corrupting effect of casual and conversational scepticism
On Thoughtless Remarks Read More »
Child Psychology and Nonsense
Putting nonsense in the wrong place
Child Psychology and Nonsense Read More »
The Orthodoxy of Hamlet
Chesterton’s essay on Shakespeare’s Hamlet
The Orthodoxy of Hamlet Read More »
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The greatest of Shakespeare’s comedies, in Chesterton’s opinion
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Read More »
History Versus the Historians
On the benefits of studying history by reading the actual text of the time
History Versus the Historians Read More »
Getting to Know the Middle Ages
Modern ignorance about the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries
Getting to Know the Middle Ages Read More »
Anti-Religious Thought in the Eighteenth Century
On the eclipse of Christian theology during the rationalist advance
Anti-Religious Thought in the Eighteenth Century Read More »
The Meaning of the Crusade
An analysis of one of the most misunderstood events in Christian history
The Meaning of the Crusade Read More »
Government and the Rights of Man
Lamenting the intrusion of government on the rights of man
Government and the Rights of Man Read More »
Democracy and Industrialism
The fading vision of democracy in our time
Democracy and Industrialism Read More »
Reflections on a Rotten Apple
A one-chapter explanation of Distributism
Reflections on a Rotten Apple Read More »
A Misunderstanding about Method
A sketch of the first principles of Distributism
A Misunderstanding about Method Read More »
The Ideal Detective Story
Did Shakespeare write the ideal detective story?
The Ideal Detective Story Read More »
How to Write a Detective Story
The fundamental principles of a great mystery story
How to Write a Detective Story Read More »
Errors about Detective Stories
Where do detective writers go wrong?
Errors about Detective Stories Read More »
A Defence of Detective Stories
On the detective story as a legitimate form of art
A Defence of Detective Stories Read More »
The Song of Right and Wrong
The poem that got Chesterton fired from The Daily News.
The Song of Right and Wrong Read More »
Elegy in a Country Churchyard
Chesterton’s “Elegy in a Country Churchyard” is one of the greatest anti-war and anti-government poems of all time.
Elegy in a Country Churchyard Read More »
A Hymn: O God of Earth and Altar
A Chesterton poem you can sing in church
A Hymn: O God of Earth and Altar Read More »
The Rolling English Road
This is a poem that begs to be recited aloud
The Rolling English Road Read More »
A Child of the Snows
A great Christmas poem, which has inspired numerous song writers
A Child of the Snows Read More »
Negative and Positive Morality
Salvation is not negative, but highly positive
Negative and Positive Morality Read More »
On Mending and Ending Things
Two opposite methods to reform
On Mending and Ending Things Read More »
A Defence of Baby Worship
With each new baby, the whole universe is again put on trial
A Defence of Baby Worship Read More »