Quote by G.K. Chesterton
Fairy tales do not give the child his first idea of bogey. What fairy tales give the child is his first clear idea of the possible defeat of bogey. The baby has known the dragon intimately ever since he had an imagination. What the fairy tale provides for him is a St. George to kill the dragon.
Summary
This quote by G.K. Chesterton suggests that fairy tales do not introduce children to their fears or monsters (bogey), but instead, they offer children hope for overcoming those fears. The child is already familiar with the concept of fear and imaginary creatures (the dragon) through their imagination. However, the fairy tale presents a hero figure (St. George) who defeats the dragon, giving the child a powerful symbol and inspiration to conquer their fears. The quote emphasizes the transformative and empowering nature of fairy tales in providing a sense of courage and triumph.