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Quote#Wisdom

Men always talk about the most important things to total strangers.…

Quote byG. K. Chesterton · 1874–1936

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: The Club of Queer Trades (1905), Ch. 5 "The Noticeable Conduct of Professor Chadd".

English (original)

Men always talk about the most important things to total strangers. It is because in the total stranger we perceive man himself; the image of God is not disguised by resemblances to an uncle or doubts of the wisdom of a moustache.

— G. K. Chesterton

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