day no. 16,363: a man cannot fit a philosophy into his head

"The modern habit of saying 'This is my opinion, but I may be wrong' is entirely irrational. If I say that it may be wrong, I say that is not my opinion. The modern habit of saying 'Every man has a different philosophy; this is my philosophy and it suits me' – the habit of saying this is mere weak-mindedness. A cosmic philosophy is not constructed to fit a man; a cosmic philosophy is constructed to fit a cosmos. A man can no more possess a private religion than he can possess a private sun and moon." — G.K. Chesterton, Introduction to the Book of Job

A man's opinion is what he thinks is right. Now, he may be wrong, but if he thinks he may be wrong and goes on nevertheless as though he were right, he confirms that he is wrong. He is wrong because he either doubts what is doubtless or acts with certainty on something uncertain. He is wrong because he holds tightly to that which he claims is up for grabs. He is wrong because he holds loosely that which he claims is binding.

A man, strictly speaking, cannot possess a religion which only fills the square feet of his skull. He can only be caught up into a religion larger than he is. Religion is getting one's head into the heavens. Insanity is trying to get the heavens into one's head. It is a fool's errand and the end result is a mind that’s cracked. A man cannot fit all things into his head. But he may, by grace and through faith, in humility fit his mind into all other things. A philosophy of existence will not fit into a man's head, but a man may fit his head into a existing philosophy.