Good woman Quote by G.K. Chesterton
““Thrift is the really romantic thing; economy is more romantic than extravagance... But the thing is true; economy, properly understood, is the more poetic. Thrift is poetic because it is creative; waste is unpoetic because it is waste. It is prosaic to throw money away, because it is prosaic to throw anything away; it is negative; it is a confession of indifference, that is, it is a confession of failure. The most prosaic thing about the house is the dustbin, and the one great objection to the new fastidious and aesthetic homestead is simply that in such a moral menage the dustbin must be bigger than the house. If a man could undertake to make use of all things in his dustbin he would be a broader genius than Shakespeare. When science began to use by-products; when science found that colors could be made out of coaltar, she made her greatest and perhaps her only claim on the real respect of the human soul. Now the aim of the good woman is to use the by-products, or, in other words, to rummage in the dustbin.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Romance of Thrift" by G.K. Chesterton, 1905
Thrift is portrayed as a creative, poetic act, while waste is unpoetic and indifferent; using all resources reflects true genius.
In simple terms: Saving is poetic; waste is unpoetic.
Key Takeaway
Embrace resourcefulness and avoid waste.
Themes
resourcefulness
creativity
economy
poetry
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- household budgeting
- environmental activism
- product design
- zero waste living
Key Concepts
conservation
sustainability
creative reuse
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you turn waste into value?
- What does “bigger dustbin” symbolize in your life?
A Different Perspective
Thrift may be romantic but can also limit indulgence and pleasure.
