“In order that life should be a story or romance to us, it is necessary that a great part of it, at any rate, should be settled for us without our permission. If we wish life to be a system, this may be a nuiseance; but if we wish it to be a drama, it is an essential. It may often happen, no doubt, that a drama may be written by somebody else which we like very little. But we should like it still less if the author came before the curtain every hour or so, and forced on us the whole trouble of inventing the next act. A man has control over many things in his life; he has control over enough things to be the hero of a novel. But if he had control over everything, there would be so much hero that there would be no novel.”

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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) →
"In order that life should be a story or romance to us, it is necessar…" — G.K. Chesterton | Daily Quotes