Goths Quote by R.A. Lafferty
““Alaric now at this moment of supreme crisis, coming down to the rough shore and seeing the howling waves, raised his hand to heaven and called out that the Gulf of Corinth should freeze! It froze! And the Goths, shattering the last scrim of Roman interceptors, abandoned their horses and crossed the ice on foot!””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Ice‑Crowned Goths” in *The Devil’s Day*, 1972
In desperation, Alaric invokes divine power, causing the sea to freeze and enabling his troops to cross on foot.
In simple terms: Prayer turned the sea to ice, allowing passage.
Key Takeaway
Believe in unexpected solutions during crises.
Themes
faith
miracle
leadership
Mood
dramatic
mythic
Type
historical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- military strategy
- spiritual crisis
- natural disaster response
- historical reenactments
Key Concepts
mythology
history
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What role does faith play in decision‑making?
- When is a miracle a metaphor for ingenuity?
A Different Perspective
Miraculous events may be mythologized, obscuring practical tactics.
![“[The Goths'] poverty was incurable; since the most liberal donatives were soon dissipated in wasteful luxury, and the most fertile estates became barren in their hands.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/89a/edward-gibbon-710_barren_the-goths-poverty-was-incurable-since-th_978857.jpg)
