---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The average businessman began to be…"
description: "\"The average businessman began to be agnostic, not so much because he did not know where he was, as because he wanted to forget. Many of the rich took t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_agnostic_the-average-businessman-began-to-be-agno_2215999.png"
---

#  The average businessman began to be agnostic, not so much…

![“The average businessman began to be agnostic, not so much because he did not know where he was, as because he wanted to forget. Many of the rich took to scepticism exactly as the poor took to drink; because it was a way out.” quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_agnostic_the-average-businessman-began-to-be-agno_2215999.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_agnostic_the-average-businessman-began-to-be-agno_2215999.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_agnostic_the-average-businessman-began-to-be-agno_2215999.png)

> “The average businessman began to be agnostic, not so much because he did not know where he was, as because he wanted to forget. Many of the rich took to scepticism exactly as the poor took to drink; because it was a way out.”

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

Wealth and skepticism can become escapist habits, mirroring the poor’s reliance on drink, reflecting a desire to avoid confronting reality.

**In simple terms:** Rich people may use doubt as an escape, like the poor use alcohol.

Key Takeaway

Recognize avoidance, confront reality directly.

Themes

skepticism wealth escapism

Mood

analytical reflective

Type

philosophical critical

When to use this quote

- financial planning
- mental health
- ethical decision‑making
- community building

Key Concepts

philosophy social commentary

Questions to Reflect On

- Why might you turn to doubt?
- How can you face reality without escapism?

A Different Perspective

Skepticism can also be a healthy critical tool.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Agnostic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agnostic/) [Agnostic Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agnostic-did-1693828/) [Average](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average/) [Began Agnostic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/began-agnostic-4926814/) [Businessman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/businessman/) [Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Forget Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget-rich-2793952/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Scepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scepticism/) [Skeptic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeptic/) [Took Scepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-scepticism-4926815/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

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> [It is the decisive people who have become civilised; it is the indecisive, otherwise called the higher sceptics, or the idealistic doubters, who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/it-is-the-decisive-people-who-have-become-civilised-it-is-the/)

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[David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/)

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[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

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## 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/)

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