Here's a discussion topic: What Chesterton quote will we hear/see the most during the holiday season? I'll give 2-1 odds that it's this one:
"When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?"
But tell me this: Is that quote accurate? I lifted it from a blog site (a sure-fire way to get something wrong). I seem to recall that GKC said it differently. I don't think GKC is the most quoted writer of all time, but he's in the top 5 of misquoted writers.
Thrilling Romance of Orthodoxy
5 months ago
2 comments:
"The goodness of the fairy tale was not affected by the fact that there might be more dragons than princesses; it was good to be in a fairy tale. The test of all happiness is gratitude; and I felt grateful, though I hardly knew to whom. Children are grateful when Santa Claus puts in their stockings gifts of toys or sweets. Could I not be grateful to Santa Claus when he put in my stockings the gift of two miraculous legs? We thank people for birthday presents of cigars and slippers. Can I thank no one for the birthday present of birth?"
This is from "The Ethics of Elfland" in Orthodoxy
Speaking of the Ethics of Elfland . . .
Post a Comment