Monday, June 21, 2010

A Thought

“A man may well be less convinced of a philosophy from four books, than from one book, one battle, one landscape, and one old friend.” (G. K. Chesterton)

I came across this quote in an article about teaching worldview, and it really struck a chord. How often do we make a decision about the truth of something based on pure logic or scientific reasoning? And how do you measure that against the strength of a story, poem, song, painting, or movie? Or the roadmap of a life? Or a moment in history?

It seems to me that those who can grasp a philosophy and make it crystallize within a work of art, or a single act, or a life well-lived wield something very powerful.

Capture my imagination, capture my heart.