“What is thy substance, whereof
art thou made / That thousands of strange shadows on thee tend?”
Shakespeare, Sonnet. Used by Amos Wilder (Early Christian Rhetoric,
1964:78) to express the convergence of styles in the message of Jesus.
“For among all mortal men the
singers have a share/ In honor and reverence, since to them the Muse/ Has
taught the pathways [oimai], for she loves the singers’ tribe”
(Odyssey 8:479-81, transl. J M Foley, Teaching Oral Traditions 1988:20)
— with these words Odysseus honours a minstrel. The Muse does not teach
texts, but teaches “routes, avenues, means for getting there”, i.e.,
links.
“No good deed shall go
unpunished.” Royal Rhodes, Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio.
“Intellect is the ability to select.” From Dr. Marié Voigts
(Neethling), given when she was curator of the Betties Bay Nature Reserve,
living at Fynbos in Betties Bay.
“The leopard is a Christian animal who observes the fasts of the
Ethiopian Orthodox Church” (from Sperber, D 1975. Rethinking symbolism.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)
“O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us / To see oursels as others see
us” (Robert Burns). Often heard in my family as a youth.
“Die regte tyd is nou.” (Now is the best time). From Mrs. Venter,
the first principal of Primary School A F Louw in Stellenbosch, who
selected this as motto for the school. Mrs Venter lodged with my
grandmother, Hester de Villiers at 10 Dennesig St.
“Quarite in scripturas.”
“Post tenebras lux.” From Prof. Frans Smuts, Latin Department,
University of Stellenbosch, before his death.
“Tempus fugit.” Mrs. Sinie de Kock, Paul Roos Gymnasium,
Stellenbosch, Latin class.
