Thursday, December 02, 2004

What's in a name?

I thought I'd explain a little of the meaning behind my name. And I intend to do it in true Foolish Knight fashion: by using a series of quotes.

Here they are:

No. 1

‘ “Well, what is the song, then?” said Alice, who was by this time completely bewildered.
“I was coming to that,” the Knight said. “The song really is ‘A-sitting On A Gate’: and the tune’s my own invention.”
So saying, he stopped his horse and let the reins fall on its neck: then, slowly beating time with one hand, and with a faint smile lighting up his gentle foolish face, as if he enjoyed the music of his song, he began.
Of all the strange things that Alice saw in her journey Through The Looking-Glass, this was the one that she always remembered most clearly. Years afterwards she could bring the whole scene back again, as if it had been only yesterday--the mild blue eyes and kindly smile of the Knight--the setting sun gleaming through his hair, and shining on his armour in a blaze of light that quite dazzled her--the horse quietly moving about, with the reins hanging loose on his neck, cropping the grass at her feet--and the black shadows of the forest behind--all this she took in like a picture, as, with one hand shading her eyes, she leant against a tree watching the strange pair, and listening, in a half-dream, to the melancholy music of the song. ’

-Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass

No. 2

“I’m a ridiculous man. Now they call me a madman. That would be a promotion if I weren’t just as ridiculous as before in their eyes. But it no longer makes me angry. I find them all nice now, even when they laugh at me--indeed, if they do, they’re somehow particularly dear to me. I’d even laugh with them-- not really at myself but out of sheer love for them--if looking at them didn’t make me so sad. Sad, because they don’t know the truth, while I do. Ah, it’s so hard to be the only one to know the truth! But they won’t understand it. No, they won’t.”

-Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man

No. 3

If the world is sane, then Jesus is mad as a hatter and the Last Supper is the Mad Tea Party. The world says, Mind your own business, and Jesus says, There is no such thing as your own business. The world says, Follow the wisest course and be a success, and Jesus says, Follow me and be crucified. The world says, Drive carefully—the life you save may be your own—and Jesus says, Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. The world says, Law and order, and Jesus says, Love. The world says, Get, and Jesus says, Give. In terms of the world’s sanity, Jesus is crazy as a coot, and anybody who thinks he can follow him without being a little crazy too is laboring less under a cross than under a delusion.

-Frederick Buechner, The Faces of Jesus

No. 4

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the
wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I
will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks. Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. for the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger then man’s strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

First Corinthians

6 comments:

Eucharisto said...

Wow. That's really amazing. I knew about the origin from Alice And The Looking Glass, but those other quotes really brought the name into a poignant meaning. I now realise what a great usage of the wording is in your username. Bravo!

Meiska said...

dearest'foolish knight', I just thought you had low self-esteem! (just kidding) I am deeply impressed that you put that much thought into your name! Now I'll tell you why mine is what it is: I wish I was royalty, I am an Artist, and I wish I were British!!Then, Abbey Road, because I love theBeatles!( although I am still looking for the George and Ringo half of my Fab Four!)

Anonymous said...

wow< I wish someone would call me dearest

Tuesday's Child said...

In the words of Michael Card:
"So we follow God's own fool, and only the foolish can tell. Believe the unbelievable, and come be a fool as well." What a perfect name!

Anonymous said...

oh hey quenn of whatever
did you know i have direct line to king richerd and john i am roalty! but tyhe throne got moved to another line and here i am in the U.S.
wishing i was prince, maybe someday i will go back and claime my rightfull throne!!!

Meiska said...

You should so go claim your throne!( And don't forget to leave an open spot on your royal plane for me!)