There are dark and morbid moods in which I am tempted to feel that Evil re-entered the world in the form of Essays. Chesterton, Peters explains, thought the essayist wasn t held to a standard and tended to be irresponsible because he didn t come to a conclusion. Chesterton, however, always came to definite conclusions, which probably contributed to the popularity of his articles. Though the book is foremost about Chesterton, it gives valuable insight into the artistic endeavor in general. Chesterton s most essential point, says Peters, is that true imagination and most especially Christian imagination is grounded solidly in the soil of humility. . . .
Pride is directly inimical to creativity.
Specifically, the artist needs the humility of the child, who is a natural artist because he has the sense of wonder that every artist needs. The child and artist, on the other hand, fall to their knees in wonder at the smallest thing, seeing in everything something great and worthy of appreciation and wonder. It s a very humble mindset, as Chesterton described when he wrote, The only way to enjoy even a weed is to feel unworthy even of a weed. The combination of humility and wonder, and their role in art, is the staple of this book. This theme ripples throughout the book, such as in Peters s recounting of Chesterton s intellectual battles with the artistic cutting edge of his day.