february 2005 commonplace book

  1. Saturday 5 February 2005

    • Religious humility (the bishop, the priest and the peasant)

      'A distinguished bishop, a priest and a peasant are in a great cathedral. In turn the priest and the bishop approach the altar rail, beat their chests and declare, "I am nothing, I am nothing". The humble peasant, moved to imitate, shuffles to the altar and says the same thing. The bishop turns furiously and hisses in the priest's ear, "Who the hell does he think he is?" '

      quoted by Christopher Insole, Times Literary Supplement, December 17 2004. Full text at TLS website

 

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