On Political Secrecy
On Political Secrecy is a collection of essays by G.K. Chesterton that explore the dangers of secrecy in politics and government. The book argues that transparency and openness are essential for democracy to function properly, and that secrecy can lead to corruption, abuse of power, and erosion of public trust.
By G.K. Chesterton · First published 1908 · Genre: Political Commentary, Essay, Satire · 2,036 words
First lines
Generally, instinctively, in the absence of any special reason, humanity hates the idea of anything being hidden-that is, it hates the idea of anything being successfully hidden. Hide-and-seek is a popular pastime; but it assumes the truth of the text, "Seek and ye shall find. " Ordinary mankind (gigantic and unconquerable in its power of joy) can get a great deal of pleasure out of a game called "hide the thimble," but that is only because it is really a game of "see the thimble. " Suppose that at the end of such a game the thimble had not been found at all; suppose its place was unknown for ever: the result on the players would not be playful, it would be tragic. That thimble would hag-ride all their dreams. They would all die in asylums. The pleasure is all in the poignant moment of passing from not knowing to knowing. Mystery stories are very popular, especially when sold at sixpence; but that is because the author of a mystery story reveals.
What this Textopian page supports
On Political Secrecy is listed on Textopian as an essay by G.K. Chesterton, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: G.K. Chesterton
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political Commentary, Essay, Satire, Philosophical Literature, Social Criticism
- Length: 2,036 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for On Political Secrecy by G.K. Chesterton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- Democracy by George Bernard Shaw
- The Tyranny Of Bad Journalism by G. K. Chesterton
- The Voter And The Two Voices by G. K. Chesterton
- The Lawlessness Of Lawyers by G. K. Chesterton
- The Church Of The Servile State by G. K. Chesterton
- Government And Earl Grey by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Genres
- Political Commentary — The text critically examines political secrecy and the implications of hidden financial transactions in politics.
- Essay — The work is structured as a reflective and argumentative essay, exploring philosophical and ethical dimensions of secrecy.
- Satire — The writing employs humor and irony to critique political practices and societal norms.
- Philosophical Literature — The text delves into philosophical questions about human nature and the societal acceptance of secrecy.
Tags
politics · secrecy · government · transparency · ethics · power · democracy · accountability · philosophy · society · censorship · freedom