“The human race, to which so many of my readers belong, has been playing at children's games from the beginning, and will probably do it till the end, which is a nuisance for the few people who grow up. And one of the games to which it is most attached is called "Keep to-morrow dark," and which is also named (by the rustics in Shropshire, I have no doubt) "Cheat the Prophet." The players listen very carefully and respectfully to all that the clever men have to say about what is to happen in the next generation. The players then wait until all the clever men are dead, and bury them nicely. They then go and do something else. That is all. For a race of simple tastes, however, it is great fun.”
Quote Analysis
In this quote by G.K. Chesterton, he reflects on the human tendency to play "children's games" throughout life, particularly the game of "Keep to-morrow dark" or "Cheat the Prophet." Chesterton suggests that despite listening to predictions and advice from clever individuals, people often choose to disregard them, wait until those individuals have passed away, and then continue on their own path. Chesterton views this behavior as a form of entertainment for those who have "simple tastes," highlighting the human inclination towards a carefree and unpredictable existence.
Modern Relevance
In this quote by G.K. Chesterton, he highlights the tendency of human beings to ignore the warnings and predictions of experts and continue to live in the present without considering future consequences. This idea is still relevant in today's world, as many individuals and societies often prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability and well-being.
G.K. Chesterton on Human Nature
"The human race, to which so many of my readers belong, has been playing at children's games from the beginning, and will probably do it till the end, which is a nuisance for the few people who grow up. And one of the games to which it is most attached is called "Keep to-morrow dark," and which is also named (by the rustics in Shropshire, I have no doubt) "Cheat the Prophet." The players listen very carefully and respectfully to all that the clever men have to say about what is to happen in the next generation. The players then wait until all the clever men are dead, and bury them nicely. They then go and do something else. That is all. For a race of simple tastes, however, it is great fun."
Reflection Questions
Reflecting on G.K. Chesterton's quote about "Keep to-morrow dark" or "Cheat the Prophet," consider the following questions to deepen your understanding and perspective on the nature of human behavior and our relationship with the future:
- How does the concept of "Keep to-morrow dark" resonate with your own experiences and observations of human behavior?
- Do you believe that individuals and society as a whole tend to dismiss or ignore the predictions and warnings of experts and prophets about the future? Why or why not?
- What do you think motivates people to play the game of "Cheat the Prophet" and avoid facing the realities of what may come in the future?
- In your opinion, what are the potential consequences of constantly avoiding or refusing to acknowledge the challenges and issues that may arise in the future?
- How can individuals and society as a whole strike a balance between being mindful of the future and living in the present moment without succumbing to the temptation of "Keep to-morrow dark"?
Similar quotes
“All other trades are contained in that of war.Is that why war endures?No. It endures because young men love it and old men love it in them. Those that fought, those that did not.That's your notion.The judge smiled. Men are born for games. Nothing else. Every child knows that play is nobler than work. He knows too that the worth or merit of a game is not inherent in the game itself but rather in the value of that which is put at hazard. Games of chance require a wager to have meaning at all. Games of sport involve the skill and strength of the opponents and the humiliation of defeat and the pride of victory are in themselves sufficient stake because they inhere in the worth of the principals and define them. But trial of chance or trial of worth all games aspire to the condition of war for here that which is wagered swallows up game, player, all.”
“The most foolish of all errors is for clever young men to believe that they forfeit their originality in recognising a truth which has already been recognised by others.”
“Any game where the goal is to build territory has to be beautiful. There may be phases of combat, but they are only means to an end, to allow your territory to survive. One of the most extraordinary aspects of the game of go is that it has been proven that in order to win, you must live, but you must also allow the other player to live. Players who are too greedy will lose: it is a subtle game of equilibrium, where you have to get ahead without crushing the other player. In the end, life and death are only the consequences of how well or how poorly you have made your construction. This is what one of Taniguchi's characters says: you live, you die, these are consequences. It's a proverb for playing go, and for life.”
“It is possible to argue that the really influential book is not that which converts ten millions of casual readers, but rather that which converts the very few who, at any given moment, succeed in seizing power. Marx and Sorel have been influential in the modern world, not so much because they were best-sellers (Sorel in particular was not at all a widely read author), but because among their few readers were two men, called respectively Lenin and Mussolini.”
“For men and women are not only themselves; they are also the region in which they are born, the city apartment or farm in which they learnt to walk, the games they played as children, the old wives tales they overheard, the food they ate, the schools they attended, the sports they followed, the poets they read, and the God they believed in. It is all these things that have made them what they are, and these are the things that you can't come to know by hearsay...”