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Tertullian said that fidgeting is (or can be) useful unto salvation (Saint Fidgeta and Other Parodies; 14).

Nepomuk Prynne concludes his letter from Vatican III by saying fireworks at Circus Maximus will spell out his maxim, "Credo quia absurdum" (Saint Fidgeta and Other Parodies; 95).

Inspiration[]

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus[1] (c.160–c.220) is often credited as the author of the phrase, "prorsus credibile est, quia ineptum est" ("it is credible, because it is ridiculous"), often misquoted as "credo quia absurdum" ("I believe because it is absurd")[2].

"Some ardent souls have adopted the 'I believe because it's impossible' line to express an eager leap of faith, despite the feeling of those whose temperaments guide them in a different direction. [Bellairs] shows you which side he's on by tipping the balance just a bit farther: not because it's impossible, but because it's absurd."[3]

Reference[]

  1. Wikipedia: Tertullian
  2. Wikipedia: Credo quia absurdum
  3. Correspondence with Charles Bowen.
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