Skip to content

Cape Quote by G.K. Chesterton

“On his last voyage he had seemed on the brink of success and had stood in the prow reciting a grand poem of his own composition to a dim blue promontory in which he recognized one of the capes of Greenland. But it is idle to deny that the general feeling was dampened somehow, when they discovered…” quote by G.K. Chesterton
Download Open image
““On his last voyage he had seemed on the brink of success and had stood in the prow reciting a grand poem of his own composition to a dim blue promontory in which he recognized one of the capes of Greenland. But it is idle to deny that the general feeling was dampened somehow, when they discovered it was the Cape of Good Hope. In short, the admiral was one of those who keep the world young.””

G.K. Chesterton

About This Quote

Source Short story: "The Man Who Was Thursday", 1908

The admiral, hopeful at first, feels a subtle disappointment upon realizing the destination is the Cape of Hope, yet he embraces the youthful spirit of exploration.

In simple terms: He stays youthful despite setbacks.

Key Takeaway

Embrace wonder despite setbacks.

Themes

adventure disappointment optimism

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • sea voyages
  • career milestones
  • personal growth

Key Concepts

exploration human spirit resilience

Questions to Reflect On

  • What keeps you youthful in routine?
  • How do you reframe disappointment?
A Different Perspective

Hope can be fleeting when expectations shift.

2.8 out of 5 (7 ratings)

More by G.K. Chesterton

Explore all 853 G.K. Chesterton quotes

More Cape quotes

Browse all 84 Cape quotes