--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Suppose that a great commotion arises in…" description: "\"“Suppose that a great commotion arises in the street about something, let us say a lamp-post, which many influential persons desire to pull down. A gre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/g-k-chesterton-224_belief_suppose-that-a-great-commotion-arises-in_2169645.jpg" --- # Suppose that a great commotion arises in the street about… ![“Suppose that a great commotion arises in the street about something, let us say a lamp-post, which many influential persons desire to pull down. A grey-clad monk, who is the spirit of the Middle Ages, is approached upon the matter, and begins to say, in the arid manner of the Schoolmen, "Let us…” quote by G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/g-k-chesterton-224_belief_suppose-that-a-great-commotion-arises-in_2169645.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/g-k-chesterton-224_belief_suppose-that-a-great-commotion-arises-in_2169645.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/g-k-chesterton-224_belief_suppose-that-a-great-commotion-arises-in_2169645.jpg) > ““Suppose that a great commotion arises in the street about something, let us say a lamp-post, which many influential persons desire to pull down. A grey-clad monk, who is the spirit of the Middle Ages, is approached upon the matter, and begins to say, in the arid manner of the Schoolmen, "Let us first of all consider, my brethren, the value of Light. If Light be in itself good--" At this point he is somewhat excusably knocked down. All the people make a rush for the lamp-post, the lamp-post is down in ten minutes, and they go about congratulating each other on their unmediaeval practicality. But as things go on they do not work out so easily. Some people have pulled the lamp-post down because they wanted the electric light; some because they wanted old iron; some because they wanted darkness, because their deeds were evil. Some thought it not enough of a lamp-post, some too much; some acted because they wanted to smash municipal machinery; some because they wanted to smash something. And there is war in the night, no man knowing whom he strikes. So, gradually and inevitably, to-day, to-morrow, or the next day, there comes back the conviction that the monk was right after all, and that all depends on what is the philosophy of Light. Only what we might have discussed under the gas-lamp, we now must discuss in the dark.”” [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A debate about the true nature of Light shows how people pursue the same goal for conflicting motives, leading to chaos when the underlying philosophy is ignored. **In simple terms:** People fight over a lamp-post for different reasons, causing conflict. Key Takeaway Examine the deeper purpose behind actions. Themes philosophy conflict motivation society meaning Mood irirical thought‑provoking Type literary satirical When to use this quote - political protest - urban planning - community decisions - ethical debates Key Concepts Ethics metaphysics human nature Questions to Reflect On - What does “Light” represent for you? - How do hidden motives shape public disputes? A Different Perspective The story satirizes simplistic solutions without addressing underlying values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Electric light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electric-light/) [Influential person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influential-person/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Middle ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-ages/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skepticism/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [What Corrigan wanted was a fully believable God, one you could find in the grime of the everyday...he consoled himself with the fact that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/what-corrigan-wanted-was-a-fully-believable-god-one-you-could-find-in-2/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [I am not here to merely argue about the perplexities regarding theism or philosophy, but to be a light to the world and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/i-am-not-here-to-merely-argue-about-the-perplexities-regarding-theism/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“It was a perfect little model of a lamp-post, about three feet high but lengthening, and thickening in proportion, as they watched it; in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/it-was-a-perfect-little-model-of-a-lamp-post-about-three-feet-high/) [C.S. 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A grey-clad monk, who is the spirit of the Middle Ages, is approached upon the matter, and begins to say, in the arid manner of the Schoolmen, \"Let us first of all consider, my brethren, the value of Light. If Light be in itself good--\" At this point he is somewhat excusably knocked down. All the people make a rush for the lamp-post, the lamp-post is down in ten minutes, and they go about congratulating each other on their unmediaeval practicality. But as things go on they do not work out so easily. Some people have pulled the lamp-post down because they wanted the electric light; some because they wanted old iron; some because they wanted darkness, because their deeds were evil. Some thought it not enough of a lamp-post, some too much; some acted because they wanted to smash municipal machinery; some because they wanted to smash something. And there is war in the night, no man knowing whom he strikes. So, gradually and inevitably, to-day, to-morrow, or the next day, there comes back the conviction that the monk was right after all, and that all depends on what is the philosophy of Light. Only what we might have discussed under the gas-lamp, we now must discuss in the dark.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "G.K. 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