# XII: Paganism and Mr. Lowes Dickinson explained — Heretics > Chapter companion for Heretics by G. K. Chesterton. ## What happens Chesterton critiques the New Paganism of Swinburne and Pater, arguing that true paganism was not hedonistic but reasonable and responsible. He engages with Mr. Lowes Dickinson's contrast between Christianity and Paganism, asserting that Christianity's departure from Paganism was not asceticism but the discovery of humility as a psychological necessity. Chesterton explains that humility, faith, hope, and charity are paradoxical yet practical virtues born from the failure of pure reason, and that the pagan world, though sensible, could not sustain itself because reasonableness alone is insufficient. ## Themes in this chapter ### Paganism vs. Christianity Chesterton argues that Christianity's departure from Paganism was not asceticism but the discovery of humility as a psychological necessity, and that the pagan world, though sensible, failed because reasonableness alone is insufficient. ### Humility and Romance Chesterton presents humility as the virtue that renews the earth and stars, enabling genuine appreciation and romance, and contrasts it with pagan self-enjoyment. ### Critique of Modern Morality Chesterton criticizes the modern misunderstanding of paganism as hedonistic and lawless, and argues that true virtue (faith, hope, charity, humility) is paradoxical and practical. ## Character check-ins ### Mr. Lowes Dickinson Chesterton engages with Dickinson's contrast between Christianity and Paganism, particularly his paper 'How long halt ye?' and his ideal of full and satisfied humanity. ### Mr. Swinburne Mentioned as a flamboyant preacher of the New Paganism, which Chesterton dismisses as unlike real paganism. ### Walter Pater Mentioned as a delicate preacher of the New Paganism, which Chesterton dismisses as unlike real paganism. ### Ulysses Chesterton contrasts Tennyson's Christianized Ulysses with the real Ulysses, who desired to get home, not to wander. ### Tennyson Referenced for his poem 'Ulysses,' which Chesterton says reads a Christian love of adventure into the pagan story. ## Key lines > The pagan set out, with admirable sense, to enjoy himself. By the end of his civilization he had discovered that a man cannot enjoy himself and continue to enjoy anything else. The pagan began reasonably seeking pleasure, but ultimately found that self-centered enjoyment destroys the ability to appreciate anything beyond oneself. _Chesterton summarizes the psychological discovery that led from paganism to Christianity._ > Humility is the thing which is forever renewing the earth and the stars. It is humility, and not duty, which preserves the stars from wrong, from the unpardonable wrong of casual resignation; it is through humility that the most ancient heavens for us are fresh and strong. Humility, not duty, keeps the universe fresh and prevents us from taking wonders for granted; it restores a childlike awe to our perception of the world. _Chesterton extols humility as the source of perpetual renewal and wonder._ > The old pagan world went perfectly straightforward until it discovered that going straightforward is an enormous mistake. It was nobly and beautifully reasonable, and discovered in its death-pang this lasting and valuable truth, a heritage for the ages, that reasonableness will not do. The pagan world was admirably rational, but in its decline it learned that pure reason is insufficient for life, a lesson that Christianity inherited. _Chesterton argues that the failure of paganism was its exclusive reliance on reason._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/heretics_se/chapters/xii-paganism-and-mr-lowes-dickinson - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/heretics_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/heretics_se/chapters