I think this is the full Chesterton quote from Tremendous Trifles, The Red Angel.
"Fairy tales, then, are not responsible for producing in children fear, or any of the shapes of fear; fairy tales do not give the child the idea of the evil or the ugly; that is in the child already, because it is in the world already. 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."
I think this is the full Chesterton quote from Tremendous Trifles, The Red Angel.
"Fairy tales, then, are not responsible for producing in children fear, or any of the shapes of fear; fairy tales do not give the child the idea of the evil or the ugly; that is in the child already, because it is in the world already. 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."
Aw yes! Thank you for sharing!
It's a quote I often see floating around that for some reason is actually a paraphrase. 🤷♀️☺️
Indeed, it is so often quoted I didn't doubt the source. A good reminder to always double check!