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Books by D.J. Butler
Category Archives: Quotation
Human Happiness
For the cities which were formerly great, have most of them become insignificant, and such as are at present powerful, were weak in the olden time. I shall therefore discourse equally of both, convinced that human happiness never continues long … Continue reading
Magic is the Service of the Gods
‘Mageia’ is the service of the gods, and the same man who teaches ‘mageia’ teaches kingly duties. No statement could well be more contrary to current feeling about magic. — Jane Ellen Harrison, Themis: A Study of the Social Origins … Continue reading
Some Part of Heaven’s Design
You are not entitled to know every detail, but I will tell you what the gods permit. At one time, in my folly, I was rash enough to disclose the plans of Zeus from start to finish. I now realize … Continue reading
The Mystery Which Guides
“Sculptors and creators of every kind are aware of inspiration and flashes of insight; and the greater they are, the more reverence they show as they refer to the mystery which guides them.” — Walter F. Otto, Dionysus: Myth and … Continue reading
Posted in Quotation
Tagged Dionysus: Myth and Cult, Inspiration, The Muse, Walter F. Otto
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This Is Not the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
My friend Brian challenged me, but in my heart it feels too late to take the ALS Challenge. So we have contributed to the charities to which we regularly contribute, and instead of dousing myself with ice, I offer you … Continue reading
Posted in Quotation
Tagged ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Good Friday 1613, John Donne, Poetry
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The Methode of a Poet Historical
“For the Methode of a Poet Historical is not such, as of an Historiographer. For an Historiographer discourseth of affayres orderly as they were donne, accounting as well the times as the actions, but a Poet thrusteth into the middest, … Continue reading
Posted in Quotation
Tagged Edmund Spenser, Historical Fiction, King Arthur, Poetry, Sir Walter Raleigh, The Faerie Queene
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Everything
“Immo vero” inquam “Impertite sermonis non quidem curiosum, sed qui velim scire vel cuncta vel certe plurima…” “No, please,” I said, “let me in on this — not that I’m nosy, it’s just that I’m the sort of person who … Continue reading
What Has Happened
I’ve just finished reading Rust Hills’s book Writing in General and the Short Story in Particular. I’ve quoted him a few times, and could have quoted him more; I feel compelled to wind up my reading with the sharing of … Continue reading
The Less Clear We’d Be
“It’s true that the basic way we know the personality of others is by their behavior, but we are often aware of a discrepancy between our own horrid actions and our own nice selves, and we can sometimes extend this … Continue reading
The Fascination
“[T]he fascination of the heavens is as old as man’s ability to think; as ancient as his capacity to wonder and to dream.” — Robert Burnham, Jr., Burnham’s Celestial Handbook
Posted in Quotation
Tagged Astronomy, Burnham's Celestial Handbook, Robert Burnham Jr.
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