Crows Quote by Walter Wangerin Jr
““Almost as evil as the stench was the silence. Senex, however poorly he had ended his rule, had always remembered the canonical crows. He sang them, to be sure, in a disoriented manner; but he did sing them, keeping his animals that way, banding them, unifying them. But Cockatrice never crowed the canon. So under him the day lost its meaning and its direction, and the animals lost any sense of time or purpose. Their land became strange to them. A terrible feeling of danger entered their souls, of things undone, of treasures unprotected. They were tired all the day long, and at night they did not sleep. And it was a most pitiful sight to see, how they all went about with hunched shoulders, heads tucked in, limping here and there as if they were forever walking into an ill wind, and flinching at every sound as if the wind carried arrows.””
About This Quote
A ruler’s neglect of tradition leads to chaos, causing fear, disorientation, and loss of purpose among his people.
In simple terms: Neglecting tradition creates disorder and anxiety.
Key Takeaway
Preserve meaningful rituals.
Themes
tradition
leadership
order
fear
purpose
Mood
uneasy
thoughtful
somber
Type
literary
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- government policy
- community rituals
- education
- ritual preservation
Key Concepts
Cultural continuity
social cohesion
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Which traditions should be re‑examined?
- How can leaders balance continuity and innovation?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes tradition is always beneficial, ignoring needed change.
![“For what was your gesture? An act of pure love for Jesus particularly. It was an act so completely focused upon the Christ that not a dram of worldly benefit was gained thereby. Nothing could justify the spillage of some three hundred days' wages, except love alone. [...] The disciples, in fact…” quote by Walter Wangerin Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d27/walter-wangerin-jr-25465_christianity_for-what-was-your-gesture-an-act-of-pure_1462240.jpg)
