C for Chesterton

G.K. Chesterton is one of my favourite writers. I borrowed a collection of his works to read in my spare time and the wit is sharp, the analogies are as precise as they are funny, and the stories are wholly enjoyable. I have not finished The Apostle and the Wild Ducks, and to rush through it tonight simply to meet tomorrow’s library return deadline would be an injustice to my good self. I need more time to savour each short essay adequately.

By Max Beerbohm — Link

A Sermon on Cheapness opens this collection. Here, Chesterton extols the value of moderation by observing that extravagance requires little imagination. How would you go about it if you were given $500 and asked to derive the maximum pleasure and meaning from it? Now, what if you were handed $500,000? Which is easier? Insights like these abound in this work.

Yet interspersed with all these brilliant theses on morality, culture and meaning are titles like In Praise of Pie, which is about precisely what it says in the header. In about 3000 words, this acclaimed philosopher, literary critic and Christian apologist argues in favour of pie over tart with the same brilliance as he would for industry over indolence.

The breadth of expression strikes me afresh. We are all stardust — as boundless as galaxies we emerged from. We can and should express every side possible with passion and excellence. If that means being a writing, dancing, horror movie-loving, fashionista software developer rolled up in one, then so be it. This life happens only once, we might as well live it colourfully.