---
title: "5 Theologian Quotes By Gilbert K. Chesterton"
description: "5 Theologian quotes by Gilbert K. Chesterton. Plus more from Gilbert K. Chesterton and more Theologian sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_closest_a-good-joke-is-the-closest-thing-we-have_458208.png"
---

> [A good joke is the closest thing we have to divine revelation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/a-good-joke-is-the-closest-thing-we-have-to-divine-revelation/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_closest_a-good-joke-is-the-closest-thing-we-have_458208.png)

> [Every man is important if he loses his life;and every man is funny if he loses his hat and has to run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/every-man-is-important-if-he-loses-his-life-and-every-man-is-funny-if/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_every-man_every-man-is-important-if-he-loses-his-l_938833.png)

> [Mr. McCabe thinks that I am not serious but only funny, because Mr. McCabe thinks that funny is the opposite of serious.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/mr-mccabe-thinks-that-i-am-not-serious-but-only-funny-because-mr/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_comedy_mr-mccabe-thinks-that-i-am-not-serious-b_982064.jpg)

> [Whether a man chooses to tell the truth in long sentences or short jokes is a problem analogous to whether he chooses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/whether-a-man-chooses-to-tell-the-truth-in-long-sentences-or-short/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_jokes_whether-a-man-chooses-to-tell-the-truth_2417369.jpg)

> [It is much easier to write a good Times leading article than a good joke in Punch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/it-is-much-easier-to-write-a-good-times-leading-article-than-a-good/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_articles_it-is-much-easier-to-write-a-good-times_2970592.png)

## Other authors on Theologian

- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b017/author-martin-luther-64750.jpg) Martin Luther 8 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/martin-luther/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b020/author-richard-dawkins-78503.jpg) Richard Dawkins 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/richard-dawkins/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b001/author-r-c-sproul-1006.jpg) R. C. Sproul 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/r-c-sproul/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b014/author-karl-barth-55197.jpg) Karl Barth 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/karl-barth/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b014/author-karen-armstrong-55066.jpg) Karen Armstrong 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/karen-armstrong/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b010/author-friedrich-nietzsche-36363.jpg) Friedrich Nietzsche 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/friedrich-nietzsche/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b005/author-bertrand-russell-17477.jpg) Bertrand Russell 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/bertrand-russell/)

## More by Gilbert K. Chesterton

> [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [Youth is always too serious, and just now it is too serious about frivolity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/youth-is-always-too-serious-and-just-now-it-is-too-serious-about/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [Tradition does not mean a dead town; it does not mean that the living are dead but that the dead are alive. It means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/tradition-does-not-mean-a-dead-town-it-does-not-mean-that-the-living/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [It is shorter to state the things forbidden than the things permitted; precisely because most things are permitted and only a few things forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/it-is-shorter-to-state-the-things-forbidden-than-the-things-permitted/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [For Scotland has a double dose of the poison called heredity; the sense of blood in the aristocrat, the sense of doom in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/for-scotland-has-a-double-dose-of-the-poison-called-heredity-the/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [Faith is always at a disadvantage; it is a perpetually defeated thing which survives all conquerors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/faith-is-always-at-a-disadvantage-it-is-a-perpetually-defeated-thing/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [A building is akin to dogma; it is insolent, like dogma. Whether or no it is permanent, it claims permanence, like a dogma. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/a-building-is-akin-to-dogma-it-is-insolent-like-dogma-whether-or-no/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [The triangle of truisms, of father, mother and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-triangle-of-truisms-of-father-mother-and-child-cannot-be/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [Criticism is only words about words, and of what use are words about such words as these?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/criticism-is-only-words-about-words-and-of-what-use-are-words-about/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place...The old humility was a spur that prevented a man from stopping; not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/what-we-suffer-from-today-is-humility-in-the-wrong-place-the-old/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [Plato was only a Bernard Shaw who unfortunately made his jokes in Greek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/plato-was-only-a-bernard-shaw-who-unfortunately-made-his-jokes-in/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [The word good has many meanings...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-word-good-has-many-meanings/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [Music with dinner is an insult both to the cook and the violinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/music-with-dinner-is-an-insult-both-to-the-cook-and-the-violinist/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [Eugenics asserts that all men must be so stupid that they cannot manage their own affairs; and also so clever that they can manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/eugenics-asserts-that-all-men-must-be-so-stupid-that-they-cannot/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "ItemList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/gilbert-k-chesterton/#itemlist",
            "name": "5 Theologian Quotes By Gilbert K. Chesterton",
            "numberOfItems": 5,
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "A good joke is the closest thing we have to divine revelation.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Gilbert K. Chesterton"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/a-good-joke-is-the-closest-thing-we-have-to-divine-revelation/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_closest_a-good-joke-is-the-closest-thing-we-have_458208.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_closest_a-good-joke-is-the-closest-thing-we-have_458208.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_closest_a-good-joke-is-the-closest-thing-we-have_458208.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“A good joke is the closest thing we have to divine revelation.” — Gilbert K. Chesterton",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Every man is important if he loses his life;and every man is funny if he loses his hat and has to run after it.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Gilbert K. Chesterton"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/every-man-is-important-if-he-loses-his-life-and-every-man-is-funny-if/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_every-man_every-man-is-important-if-he-loses-his-l_938833.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_every-man_every-man-is-important-if-he-loses-his-l_938833.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_every-man_every-man-is-important-if-he-loses-his-l_938833.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Every man is important if he loses his life;and every man is funny if he loses his hat and has to run after…” — Gilbert K. Chesterton",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Mr. McCabe thinks that I am not serious but only funny, because Mr. McCabe thinks that funny is the opposite of serious. Funny is the opposite of not funny and nothing else.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Gilbert K. Chesterton"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/mr-mccabe-thinks-that-i-am-not-serious-but-only-funny-because-mr/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_comedy_mr-mccabe-thinks-that-i-am-not-serious-b_982064.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_comedy_mr-mccabe-thinks-that-i-am-not-serious-b_982064.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_comedy_mr-mccabe-thinks-that-i-am-not-serious-b_982064.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Mr. McCabe thinks that I am not serious but only funny, because Mr. McCabe thinks that funny is the opposite…” — Gilbert K. Chesterton",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Whether a man chooses to tell the truth in long sentences or short jokes is a problem analogous to whether he chooses to tell the truth in French or in German.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Gilbert K. Chesterton"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/whether-a-man-chooses-to-tell-the-truth-in-long-sentences-or-short/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_jokes_whether-a-man-chooses-to-tell-the-truth_2417369.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_jokes_whether-a-man-chooses-to-tell-the-truth_2417369.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_jokes_whether-a-man-chooses-to-tell-the-truth_2417369.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Whether a man chooses to tell the truth in long sentences or short jokes is a problem analogous to whether…” — Gilbert K. Chesterton",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "It is much easier to write a good Times leading article than a good joke in Punch.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Gilbert K. Chesterton"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/it-is-much-easier-to-write-a-good-times-leading-article-than-a-good/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_articles_it-is-much-easier-to-write-a-good-times_2970592.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_articles_it-is-much-easier-to-write-a-good-times_2970592.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_articles_it-is-much-easier-to-write-a-good-times_2970592.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“It is much easier to write a good Times leading article than a good joke in Punch.” — Gilbert K. Chesterton",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "CollectionPage",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/gilbert-k-chesterton/#webpage",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/gilbert-k-chesterton/",
            "name": "Theologian Quotes by Gilbert K. Chesterton",
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "mainEntity": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/gilbert-k-chesterton/#itemlist"
            },
            "primaryImageOfPage": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_closest_a-good-joke-is-the-closest-thing-we-have_458208.png"
            },
            "description": "5 Theologian quotes by Gilbert K. Chesterton. Plus more from Gilbert K. Chesterton and more Theologian sayings from other authors.",
            "breadcrumb": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/gilbert-k-chesterton/#breadcrumb"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/gilbert-k-chesterton/#breadcrumb",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Topics",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Theologian",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "name": "Gilbert K. Chesterton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/gilbert-k-chesterton/"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
