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QOTD: “…Brave Knights and Heroic Courage”
You’re actually getting two quotes for the price of one today, because I think they just complement each other so well:
“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.” -G. K. Chesterton
“Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage.” -C. S. Lewis
I love these “twin quotes” on many levels: as a Christian, as a lover of fantasy, as a reader, as a writer, and as a teacher. The words make my heart swell and inspire me. Furthermore, I think these truths are important for adults, as well, and I hope they are an encouragement for you today.
Published in Group Writing
Amen! As a mother of four sons and two daughters, I tried and continue to try to feed them constantly with stories of heroic virtue. It can be difficult to see what one has to be heroic about in our pampered modern lives of ease and comfort, but I pray these stories will inspire their own lives the way they did mine.
I love this! Thank you. I think you have just distilled the secret to civilization.
I wonder how many on the left and far left believe in courage. How many of them believe in good, rather than cynicism? Great choices on quotations. You have me thinking.
This is the Quote of the Day. If you have a quotation you would like to share, our sign-up sheet awaits.
Also, if you happen to be inclined, there is also the Group Writing Project. This month, the theme is a very powerful one: If I was a —, I would —.
If you haven’t written much on Ricochet, perhaps it’s time? Usually both projects get us away from politics, and many of these wind up on the Main Feed.
Go rewatch Iron Giant.
Thank you, I’m glad! And I imagine being a relativist makes it more difficult to truly believe in virtues like courage and goodness – sad to think about.
I love this, thanks for sharing!
You know, I never did see this, but I’ll have to add it to my list!
Haha, I try! :)
I’m glad you’re doing that – it’s maybe even more important now than ever! At least, it feels that way sometimes.
My daughter’s religion class has her researching and presenting oral reports on saints of the early Church. Two of my sons last year completed a history course on the middle ages, which culminates with reading the story of Lepanto, and Don Juan of Austria. Louis de Wohl’s biography of him, The Last Crusader and Chesterton’s “Lepanto” are integral parts of that course. I don’t think I have ever been able to read “Lepanto” aloud without tears, and I read it aloud every year on October 7.
When I was a high school student being asked to write “compare and contrast” essays, I always used Frodo from The Lord of the Rings as one of my examples. He is so great for illustrating so many truths — the need to rise to the occasion, the understanding that one’s comforts and peace often depend on someone’s terrible, brutal sacrifice, what it means to be heroic, the importance of friends who can be trusted, the need for hope, the importance of realizing you never know everything or can plan for all eventualities, and the way that evil intentions can be turned to good.
One of the best books in the world.
Can I share something here my son just said? He pointed out how interesting it is that Tolkien died in 1973.
Get it? 3-7-9-1 1-9-7-3.
Interesting to me at least…
Boys gotta boy and moms gotta mom. Bet he’s a sweetheart. Aren’t boys great? And then they become men. What a system.
No people are terrible.
He’s been making my morning coffee and delivering it to me for years and years. He can crack my neck with a single pressure point. He is a lovey dovey …with an attitude problem. He’s almost 17!
I’ve never actually read LOTR! I have seen the movies, but I know that’s not the same, haha.
That is interesting! Thanks for sharing!
You must be a Calvinist. LOL just kidding.
Evolutionary psychologist.