Chesterton's Platitudes Undone

I ran across a fun little book that I received during college called Platitudes Undone. During the 1950s a fan of Chesterton stumbled across a copy of Holbrook Jackson's Platitudes in the Making (1911). Within the text of Jackson's book were Chesterton's handwritten comments and quips on Jackson's platitudes.

Chesterton's comments capture nicely his ability to pack a pithy punch.

Here are some examples:

Platitude: A lie is that which you do not believe.
Chesterton's insert: This is a lie: so perhaps you don't believe it

Platitude: No opinion matters finally: except your own.
Chesterton's insert: ...said the man who thought he was a rabbit.

Platitude: Things done on principle are things done wrong.
Chesterton's insert: Only on the wrong principle; this last principle, for instance.

Platitude: A man is a ship: his religion a harbour. Few men sail the high seas.
Chesterton's insert: No men do, except to find a harbour somewhere.