Category Archives: Shakespeare

After a lengthy hiatus, Lion and Ox engage in a lazy summer dialogue in which they compare certain aspects of their own mode of eating to the habits of the philosopher.

Posted on June 29, 2021 by marklangley

Ox: Ah, summer once again Lion! A time to stand around for hours idly, yet contentedly chewing the cud in the warm summer sunshine. Think of it! All that ruminating and digesting. Frankly, I pity you, you carnivores that only … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy, Shakespeare, Socrates, socratic dialogue | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Dialogue Concerning Large Discourse

Posted on March 25, 2020 by marklangley

Today we shall content ourselves with purely intellectual discourse. OX: Why? Lion: Because you and I, my dear Ox, both possess the ability for large discourse! And as we all know, reaching way back to the vestiges and remnants of … Continue reading →

Posted in enlightenment, Heraclitus, Hesiod, liberal education, Shakespeare, socratic dialogue, truth for its own sake, Wisdom | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Why I do not want to be the King of Scotland

Posted on February 25, 2020 by marklangley

I’m not so certain that I want to be king of Scotland anymore. After reading The Tragedy of Macbeth with my students, I am having a difficult time shaking off a sense that life is meaningless when worldly ambition is the governing principle. … Continue reading →

Posted in classical education, Literature, Shakespeare, Temptation, truth for its own sake | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sin is first in the will: a brief lesson in morality from Lady Macbeth

Posted on February 20, 2020 by marklangley

Of all the authors we should compel our students to read, surely no one is so foolhardy as to demand a reason for reading Shakespeare. I can forgive the one who asks, Why should students read Aeschylus? Or Why do you force them to … Continue reading →

Posted in aeschylus, Augustine, catholic education, classical education, Literature, Shakespeare, Temptation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Two Reasons Why Things Are Difficult to Understand

Posted on July 12, 2019 by marklangley

As has been thoroughly set forth and expounded by the inimitable philosopher, the late great Duane Berquist, in a beautiful succinct and brilliant paper on this very subject, there are seven times when we need to go wisely and slow in … Continue reading →

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Seven times to proceed wisely and slow

Posted on July 7, 2019 by marklangley

This past January 22, the philosopher Duane Berquist died. Among his many virtues, Duane Berquist had the distinction of being a wise man. Readers of lionandox.com might already be familiar with some of Dr. Berquist’s thought to the extent that … Continue reading →

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Did You Know That Your Soul Has Twenty Six Powers?

Posted on January 27, 2019 by marklangley

Though I never saw it with my own eyes, it is said that the two words “Know thyself” were inscribed over the entrance to the Temple at Delphi. γνῶθι σεαυτόν That the seven wise men of Greece chose to have … Continue reading →

Posted in Delphi, philosophy, Shakespeare, soul | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Make Your House Fair as You are Able!

Posted on December 22, 2017 by marklangley

What is Christmas about? What is Advent about except to prepare for and celebrate the arrival of Wisdom Himself, in the form of a little baby, into the warm hospitable stables of our own hearts! We have been doing our … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Heraclitus, liberal education, Shakespeare, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Other Statues to Pull Down

Posted on August 18, 2017 by marklangley

While we are busily engaged in the sanctimonious and largely symbolic act of pulling down statues of various confederate generals and others who promoted slavery directly or indirectly, I have a few suggestions for some other “statues” that need pulling … Continue reading →

Posted in education, liberal education, Modernists, Shakespeare, slavery | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Why Does Christ Say His Yoke Is Easy?

Posted on July 10, 2017 by marklangley

Every couple of years I ask my students: Can any of you think of a set of rules or instructions about how to live that would make life easier than those which are embodied under the name of Christianity? And … Continue reading →

Posted in Homer Sightings, Metaphysics, Shakespeare, slavery | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments