“Do you see this lantern? cried Syme in a terrible voice.'Do you see the cross carved on it, and the flame inside? You did not make it. You did not light it. Better men than you, men who could believe and obey, twisted the entrails of iron and preserved the legend of fire. There is not a street you walk on, there is not a thread you wear, that was not made as this lantern was, by denying your philosophy of dirt and rats. You can make nothing. You can only destroy. You will destroy mankind, you will destroy the world. Let that suffice you. Yet this one old Christian lantern you shall not destroy. It shall go where your empire of apes will never have the wit to find it.”

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About G.K. Chesterton

English writer and philosopher of the early 20th century, G.K. Chesterton is best known for his witty, paradoxical essays and novels that explore faith, tradition, and the human condition. His works often blend humor with deep philosophical inquiry, making complex ideas accessible and thought-provoking.

More from G.K. Chesterton (260 quotes) →
"Do you see this lantern? cried Syme in a terrible voice.'Do you see t…" — G.K. Chesterton | Daily Quotes