Canute
(en)
referring to an apocryphal anecdote illustrating the piety or humility of King Canute the Great, in which he demonstrates to his courtiers that he has no control over the elements (the incoming tide), explaining that secular power is vain compared to the supreme power of God
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canute
canutism
the contemporary Left's tendencies towards Canutism
confirm
8 years, 10 months ago
Anyway, the sight of Harold sitting down again like Canute on his throne and looking around for me to explain to him what on earth was now going to happen was too much for me, and I fled.
notable
1 year ago
The philosopher must simply wage a ceaseless, Canute-like war against them – a battle which Wittgenstein sees as a kind of linguistic therapy, and which Derrida terms ‘deconstruction’.
them being metaphysical illusions
uncertain
9 years, 1 month ago
His problems? No one cared. They were the great green tide, and he was just another fat Canute, foolish and alone.
notable
3 months ago