The World State - A poem by G.K. Chesterton

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The World State - A poem by G.K. Chesterton - Poetry Connection


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G.K. Chesterton - The World State

Oh, how I love Humanity, 
  With love so pure and pringlish, 
And how I hate the horrid French, 
  Who never will be English! 

The International Idea, 
  The largest and the clearest, 
Is welding all the nations now, 
  Except the one that's nearest. 

This compromise has long been known, 
  This scheme of partial pardons, 
In ethical societies 
  And small suburban gardens— 

The villas and the chapels where 
  I learned with little labour 
The way to love my fellow-man 
  And hate my next-door neighbour.

Added: on April 13th, 2005 at 8:06 PM | Viewed: 849 times | Comments (2)

The World State - Comments and Information
Poet: G.K. Chesterton Poem: The World State Comment 2 of 2, added on April 23rd, 2006 at 6:11 AM. When a discussion of love arises I am reminded of St Thomas Aqinias' definition,"Willing the Good of the Other". This indicates something other than a carnal, emotional impulse, which on its own will not last. Love and sacrifice are intimately entwined. barry morgan from Australia Comment 1 of 2, added on April 13th, 2005 at 8:06 PM. C.S. Lewis comments on the idea in this poem, in Mere Christianity. He says if we love our fellow man, or rather our rather abstract idea of our fellow man, and hate our neighbor, then our love for our fellow man is largely imaginary, and our hate is completely real. If we are kind in our imagination, and rotten in our actions, we are in fact just rotten. Tammy from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The World State, has received 2 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by G.K. Chesterton with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
The World State Last read: 2008-09-02 23:24:43 Viewed 849 times. Added on April 13th, 2005 at 8:06 PM.

Chesterton Info
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