The week in words

Thanks to Amy, I’m aware of this new weekly carnival at Breath of Life. It involves sharing some words from your reading. Melissa explains,

“Playing along is simple, just write a post of the quote(s) that spoke to you during the week (attributed, of course) and link back here. They can be from any written source, i.e. magazine, newspaper, blog, book. The only requirement is that they be words you read.”

Here’s a paragraph from Lloyd Alexander’s Westmark, which I learned of at Semicolon. The speaker is Cabbarus, chief minister of the realm of Westmark, and he’s reading about the most recent government attempts to shut down pamphleteers and printing presses:

“The subjects of His Majesty,” he was saying, “require the firmest guidance. The people yearn for it, without even realizing what it is they yearn for. These scribblers cause nothing but unrest. Their deaths, beyond question, will serve a higher purpose than their lives: the good of the kingdom. I bear them no personal animosity, but I would fail in my duty if I did otherwise. They will, at least, be spared the needless humiliation of a public trial.”

Chuckle, chuckle. Couldn’t help but picture certain public figures speaking about health care. Or the frequency with which we hear “lack of understanding” bemoaned as the reason some policies meet with opposition (as though there could be no real disagreement). Or the plain rudeness in some quarters about our “nation of dodos.”

Long live “the scribblers,” and may they forever frustrate Cabbarus and his ilk.

What have you been reading? Visit Breath of Life to read or participate!