Hustle and Bustle

In his book Orthodoxy, G.K. Chesterton wrote:

"It is customary to complain of the bustle and strenuousness of our epoch. But in truth the chief mark of our epoch is a profound laziness and fatigue; and the fact is that the real laziness is the cause of the apparent bustle. Take one quite external case; the streets are noisy with taxicabs and motorcars; but this is not due to human activity but to human repose. There would be less bustle if there were more activity, if people were simply walking about." 

I might add ...or riding bicycles. He continues:

"Our world would be more silent if it were more strenuous."

Chesterton wrote this in 1908. As I read it last night I found myself lamenting that there is nothing new under the sun and that the more things change, the more they stay the same. This morning I reminded myself that cities like the often cited Copenhagen have proved that in some places cyclists and pedestrians have reclaimed some of the streets. So, there's hope.

One other Chesterton quote from last night's reading:

‎"Man must have just enough faith in himself to have adventures, and just enough doubt of himself to enjoy them."

Now, get out there and cycle up an adventure or two.