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Recent In This Sign Conquer The Marks of a Tyrant Keep It Short Go to the Ant
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1

In This Sign Conquer
By Eusebius of Caesarea

Bishop Eusebius recalls what Constantine told him about the vision that brought him the crown.

It was at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, on October 28th, 312, that Constantine — encouraged by the British legions — overcame his rival Maxentius and emerged as the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. In this passage, his friend and confidant Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, recalls what Constantine told him about his vision before the battle, and the banner that Christ told him to make.

Posted February 26

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Jigsaws: Join this group of ideas together to make a single sentence, in as many ways as you can. See if you can include any of the words in square brackets.

Constantine saw a cross in the sky. He did not know what it meant. [Loss. Understand. Vision.]

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Picture: © Udimu, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.. Source.

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2

The Marks of a Tyrant
By Aristotle

Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle explains what it is that defines a tyranny.

We tend to use the word ‘tyrant’ today with a mental picture of some apoplectic dictator raving and stamping. This is hardly adequate, and it allows much tyranny to pass unnoticed. Aristotle gave us a more carefully drawn word-portrait: of a man (or of men) whose goal is to keep a grip on power by systematically dividing, demeaning and disheartening the public.

Posted February 25

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Jigsaws: Join this group of ideas together to make a single sentence, in as many ways as you can. See if you can include any of the words in square brackets.

Tyrants employ bad men. They want dirty jobs done. Only bad men will do them. [Moral. Prepare. Reason.]

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Picture: By Roland Vivian Pitchforth (1895-1982), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.. Source.

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3

Keep It Short
By Plutarch

Plutarch argues that it when it comes to strong speech, less is always more.

Plutarch has been discussing at length (the incongruity has to be passed over) the annoyance of people who talk too much. The insatiable prattlers, he says, should consider how we admire men of few words; and he gave some examples, from the Spartans, who rebuffed Philip of Macedon, to the god Apollo, who would rather be obscure than wordy.

Posted February 24

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Jigsaws: Join this group of ideas together to make a single sentence, in as many ways as you can. See if you can include any of the words in square brackets.

Apollo liked to be brief. Being clear mattered less. [Few. Understand. Whether.]

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Picture: By Johannes Moreelse (?1602-1634), Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.. Source.

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4

Go to the Ant
By The Authorized Version

Solomon recommends taking lessons from one of God’s smallest but most hard-working creatures.

The Book of Proverbs is traditionally ascribed to Solomon, son of King David, and himself King of Israel early in the tenth century BC, though as with the Psalms some of it was compiled from the works of other authors, and some is of later date. The following passage was translated into English for the Authorized Version of 1611, and the result is quite masterly.

Posted February 20

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Jigsaws: Join this group of ideas together to make a single sentence, in as many ways as you can. See if you can include any of the words in square brackets.

The ant works hard. People should copy ants. They should not be lazy. [Example. Instead. Rather.]

Tags: Copy Book (97)

Picture: © Tim Felce, Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.0.. Source.

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5

Chariots of Steam
By Erasmus Darwin

Erasmus Darwin imagines how steam power will change the world.

Erasmus Darwin, father of pioneering zoologist Charles Darwin, wrote these lines in his poem The Botanic Garden, published in 1789 but written as many as twenty years earlier, when steam-powered vehicles were still decades away.

Posted February 16

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Tags: Copy Book (97)

Picture: By Clément Ader, photo © Roby, Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.0.. Source.

6

The Moral Case for Family Farms
By Richard Cobden

Richard Cobden called on Parliament to support small, family-owned farms.

In 1864, Richard Cobden MP published an open letter arguing that small-holdings owned by the farmer, with the absolute right of inheritance, were the best guarantee of public morality and national prosperity. He began with the claim of public morality, arguing that the Government’s policy of super-farms was a step back towards feudalism, and a blow to aspiration.

Posted February 14

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Jigsaws: Join this group of ideas together to make a single sentence, in as many ways as you can. See if you can include any of the words in square brackets.

Some farmers own their land. The number is going down. The is bad for the country. [Consequence. Fewer. Harm.]

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Picture: © Christine Matthews, Geograph. CC BY-SA 2.0.. Source.

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Blog Latest

In This Sign Conquer Bishop Eusebius recalls what Constantine told him about the vision that brought him the crown.

Posted February 26 • The Copy Book

Phrases Use phrases such as ‘to the town’ in sentences, with nouns or with verbs.

Posted February 26

The Marks of a Tyrant Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle explains what it is that defines a tyranny.

Posted February 25 • The Copy Book

Keep It Short Plutarch argues that it when it comes to strong speech, less is always more.

Posted February 24 • The Copy Book

Anagrams Shuffle the letters of each of these words to make new ones. See if you can match the number indicated.

Posted February 23 • Think and Speak

Polyword: Mere Make as many words as you can using the letters of one nine-letter word. Can you beat our score?

Posted February 21 • Think and Speak

Go to the Ant Solomon recommends taking lessons from one of God’s smallest but most hard-working creatures.

Posted February 20 • The Copy Book

Chariots of Steam Erasmus Darwin imagines how steam power will change the world.

Posted February 16 • The Copy Book

Music Video Modest Mussorgsky: Sorochinsky Fair: Gopak

Posted February 16

Fragments Develop these short phrases into complete sentences.

Posted February 15 • Think and Speak

The Moral Case for Family Farms Richard Cobden called on Parliament to support small, family-owned farms.

Posted February 14 • The Copy Book

Hiawatha Takes a Photograph Lewis Carroll records a suburban photoshoot in the style of Longfellow.

Posted February 13 • The Copy Book

Nouns of Number William Cobbett gives his son James some helpful examples of collective nouns.

Posted February 13 • The Copy Book

Hiawatha’s Inspiration Henry Longfellow tells us how his tale of a heroic Native American warrior came to him.

Posted February 12 • The Copy Book

Near Synonyms These words have very similar meaning but they are not the same — can you show the difference?

Posted February 12

Music Video Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Hiawatha: And They Said Farewell Forever

Posted February 12

Music Video Leroy Anderson: Irish Suite: II. The Minstrel Boy

Posted February 11

The Travellers and the Axe Two men find an axe, and then find some trouble, but they aren’t keen on sharing either of them.

Posted February 11 • The Copy Book

Train

Posted February 9 • Think and Speak

The Prophecy of Peter of Pomfret Peter foretold that King John would cease to be England’s sovereign, and he was right, though John still wore his crown.

Posted February 9 • The Copy Book