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6th Grade Sapientiae Inquisitiones

1.  Gentlemen, what are you?

I am becoming a king in Narnia, for I rule myself.

2.  Ladies, what are you?

I am becoming a queen in Narnia, for I rule myself.

3.  What does it mean to rule yourself?

I am free to learn the true, to do the good, and to love the beautiful; I am not a slave to my desires.

4.  Why should I consider myself a king or queen in training?

The kings and queens in Narnia were virtuous.  They chose carefully and they chose well.  I am attempting to follow in their footsteps, to do and to be what is true, good, and beautiful over time, and thus to build into my character those virtues which will stand the test of time.

5.  What are the vices that will work against my desire to become virtuous?

The seven vices are pride, avarice, lust,  envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth.

6.  What virtues will protect me against these vices?

The seven virtues which are prudence or practical wisdom, justice, fortitude or courage, temperance or moderation, faith, hope, and love.

7.  How will I know if I am moving closer to my character goals?

I will increasingly practice the following in my interactions with others: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and  self-control.

 8.  What is temptation and what is virtue?

Temptation is that which causes me to be less than I can be.  It draws me in with promises of power, prestige, and position.  Virtue is that which enables me to make right choices which align with becoming a virtuous king or queen in Narnia.

9.  What is human society?

According to Edmund Burke, society is a partnership in all science; a partnership in all art; a partnership in every virtue, and in all perfection.  As the ends of such a partnership cannot be obtained in many generations, it becomes a partnership not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are yet to be born.  We are not islands; we are part of the living, breathing stream of life, remembering the past, critiquing the past while our feet are firmly planted in the present, purposing to do better in the future, upheld by the powerful hand of Providence.

10.  What is the primary lesson about the gods that I should take from Ancient Greek and Roman cultures?  

That man is always trying to make gods in his own image, and when he does, the gods he makes are sinful and angry.

11.  What did the Greeks contribute to civilization? 

The Greeks contributed many philosophical ideas including democracy, the idea of the cardinal virtues, the extensive works of Plato and Aristotle, and many foundational documents for science and mathematics.  Our twenty-six letter alphabet is directly descended from the Greeks.

12.  What did the Romans contribute to civilization?  

The Romans contributed the idea of a republic, and Roman civilization was the means by which Christianity spread to the whole world via Roman roads and highways.  The West has also inherited from the Romans our basic structure of government.

13.  What am I to learn from the virtuous men and women who have gone before me?  

I am to learn that anything worth living for is also worth dying for, that when I am willing to subdue my base nature, reject temptation when it entices and threatens to destroy me, and chose to do the right and honorable thing, I am made more myself by consistently practicing the virtues.

14.  What is the virtue of faith and how is it best expressed?  

Faith is practiced in the here and now, and it has truth as its immediate and proper object.  Faith is best defined by how it enables the man or woman who possesses it to live in accord with virtues and values for mankind, as expressed by the Founding Fathers of our nation.

15.  What is the virtue of hope and how is it best expressed?  

Hope is a joyful and confident expectation of good.  It is forward looking.  Hope is best expressed when a confidence in truth, goodness, and beauty enables the believing heart to rest peaceably, knowing the future is secure.

16.  What is the virtue of love and how is it best expressed?   

Love is the sacrificial laying down of one’s life for the good or the benefit of another.  

17.  What is the virtue of prudence and how is it best expressed?  

Prudence is practical wisdom chosen and completed.  It is best expressed in the life of one who consistently chooses the good, the true, and the beautiful without wavering in his or her commitment to his fellow companions or his “fellowship” on this incredible journey we call life.

18.  What is the virtue of justice and how is it best expressed?  

Justice means loving our neighbor as we love ourselves and consistently practicing The Golden Rule, as presented to us in a book highly valued by America’s Founding Fathers, the Bible.

22.  What is the virtue of temperance and how is it best expressed?  

Temperance or moderation is the virtue that helps us rise above our animal nature, making truth, goodness, and beauty in us shine more brilliantly.  For humans, unlike animals, pleasure is tempered by understanding.  Developing desires for the good requires understanding.  The temperate person is one who understands these connections between bodily pleasures and the larger human good, and whose understanding actually tempers the desires and pleasures.  Temperance is liberating because it allows us to become masters of our pleasure instead of becoming its slaves.

23.  What is the virtue of fortitude and how is it best expressed?  

Fortitude is when someone has the emotional power to withstand adversity. People who have fortitude are described in an admiring way for their courage and this word comes from the Latin word fortitudo, meaning "strength.  It is best expressed in the actions of virtuous men and women who, although doubting in their own abilities, are constrained to act in accord with the true, the good, and the beautiful, and in so doing, provide examples to others of what it is to live courageously.

24.  What have I learned from the literature I have studied this year?  

I have learned that courage is important if one is to persevere, that human nature will always tend toward what is “best for me” and toward selfishness, that home and family are the greatest good for all who desire to live in community, and that there is a specific purpose and calling for every man and woman.  I have also learned that choices matter, both in the short-term and in the long, and I have learned that those who are kind provide examples for others to follow and are the best type of leaders.

25.  Why is it important for us to know what Aristotle and Plato said?  

Much of what we believe comes from the ideas originally formed by these minds.  If we are to engage in the Great Conversation in a way that is constructive and society-building, we need to know what these men said and wrote.

26.  What is the most significant lesson I am to learn from my sixth grade humanities classes? 

 The most significant lesson I must learn from my sixth grade humanities classes is that Providence superintends history in such a way that the strengths of one generation and/or culture can be used to impact others for the good, and that foolishness in a man or a culture has great potential to destroy.   I am an essential cog in this wheel called civilization.  My choices and my decisions make a difference for the future of the world.  

I.  All for one and one for all

            This saying means that all the members of a group must work for the good of each individual member, and each individual must work for the good of the group as a whole.

Ex:  As the Red Dragons headed onto the field, the soccer coach reminded them, “All for one and one for all!”

2.  All’s well that ends well

            This saying from Shakespeare means that if something finally succeeds, then the difficulties or mistakes along the way can be forgotten.

Ex:  At the school dance, Jake managed to step on Alice’s toes, spill punch on her dress, and tear his pants.  But when the evening ended and Alice said, “I hope you’ll ask me out again,” Jake sighed to himself, “All’s well that ends well.”

3.  The best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry

            A poet named Robert Burns wrote this line in a poem titled “To a Mouse.”  “Awry” means turned or twisted to one side.  The speaker in the poem ruins the mouse’s nest while plowing a field.  He explains to the creature that even when you put a great deal of careful planning and effort into something (like building a nest), you may not end up with the result you want.

Ex:  Hundreds of men planned and built the Tower of Pisa, but it ended up leaning anyway.  The best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry.

4.  A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

            When people say this, they mean that it is much better to be content with what you have than to go chasing after something that may be out of reach:  you might end up with nothing.

Ex:  The excited contestant on the game show had just won a car.

            “And now,” said the host, “you can keep the car, or you can give it back and spin the wheel again to try for an even bigger prize!”

            “Thanks,” replied the contestant, “I’ll keep the car.  A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.

            Sometimes out of anger or for revenge we do things that actually end up hurting us rather than making us feel better.  We use this expression to warn against such behavior.

Ex:  Sam was angry.  “I studied really hard for that math test and my grade was terrible.  So you know what I’m going to do for the next test?  I’m not going to study at all.”

            “Oh, come on, Sam,” said Dana.  “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.”

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

            This saying means you shouldn’t fault something that is given to you, or criticize the giver.  It comes from the practice of checking a horse’s teeth and gums before buying it to see how healthy it is.

Ex:  “Alec, I can’t believe you’re giving me your old bike!  Thanks!” Stacie said as she jumped on and began to play with the gears.  “Say, do all the gears work?”

            “Don’t you know better than to look a gift horse in the mouth, Stacie?”  said Alec, disappointed.  “The bike may be old, but it’ll get you where you want to go.”

A fool and his money are soon parted.

            This saying means that a person who is foolish with his money won’t hold on to it for very long.  People usually say it as a warning.

Ex:  The first time Noah got paid for mowing a neighbor’s yard, he wanted to rush out and buy something – anything!  But he remembered his big brother saying that a fool and his money are soon parted, and he decided to save his money for something worthwhile.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

            Some people are your friends when you are happy but avoid you when you are having trouble.  This proverb explains that a true friend is the one who sticks around when you are in need of help, comfort, or anything else.

Ex:  Every day while Mr. Gainey was sick, his neighbor Charles went to his house to cook for him and read to him.  Charles really proved that a friend in need is a friend indeed.

Good fences make good neighbors.

            This saying suggests that by clearly marking the boundaries between yourself and other people you can stay on better terms with them.  It comes from a poem by Robert Frost.

Ex:  “Marcus borrows so many books form me that I can’t find my own books when I need them,” moaned Phillip.

            “You know,” said his father, “good fences make good neighbors.  Why don’t you tell Marcus he can only borrow one book at a time?  Then you’ll know what he has, and you won’t feel so angry with him.”

He who hesitates is lost.

            If you wait before you do something, it may be too late.  People use this saying to urge someone into action or to comment on a lost opportunity.

Ex:  Erika looked sadly out the window at the falling snow and then said, “Grandma is right – she who hesitates is lost.  I kept meaning to plant daffodil bulbs under my window, but now the ground will be frozen all winter.”

He who laughs last laughs best/To have the last laugh

            People often ridicule new projects or ideas.  But in the end, when something works, the person who took it seriously gets the best laugh of all – one that proves him right.

Ex:  “My neighbors think I’m silly for practicing my climbing on the garden wall,” Kyle said.  “But the day I reach the summit of Mount Everest, I’ll have the last laugh.”

Hitch your wagon to a star.

            This saying means that you should aim as high as you can.

Ex:  Robert practiced his jump shots and free throws every day.  “Someday,” he said to his father, “I’m going to make the high school team.”

            “Why stop there?” said his father with a laugh.  “Hitch your wagon to a star:  shoot for the NBA!”

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

            This proverb comes from past times, when horses were a primary means of transportation and many people were too poor to own them.  It means that if wishes were easy to achieve, then everyone would have everything they want.

Ex:  “I wish I had a million dollars,” said Cal.

            “Sure,” said Alicia, “and if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.”

The leopard can’t change its spots.

            When people say this, they mean that it’s impossible to change or hide a particular trait, because that trait is part of what makes that someone or something what it is.

Ex:  “I wish Marcia would be on time for once,” said Kelly.

            “A leopard can’t change its spots,” commented Jonathan.  “I say next time we tell her the meeting starts half an hour earlier than it does.”

Little strokes fell great oaks.

            A task may seem overwhelming, but if you break it into manageable smaller tasks and persevere, you can complete it.

Ex:  When the students volunteered for the housing program, they couldn’t imagine what their hammering, sawing, and plastering would do.  But little strokes fell great oaks, and in the spring five new houses were ready for families to occupy.

Money is the root of all evil.

            The actual saying is “The love of money is the root of all evil.”  This proverb means that

greed for money can sometimes motivate people to do things that they wouldn’t otherwise do.

Ex:  “Mrs. Alvarado, it says here that some factories dump poisonous waste into rivers.  Don’t they care about the wildlife and the people who use the water?”

            Bill’s teacher explained, “It’s cheaper to dump the waste than to dispose of it safely.  Some factories care more about their profits than they do about rivers.”

            “No wonder people say money is the root of all evil,” Bill mused.

Necessity is the mother of invention

            People often come up with new ideas, new ways of doing things, or new things because they need to solve a problem.

Ex;  “Rosie, you should see Ted’s new bed.  It’s up on a platform,” said Raymond.  “And he even built a desk and book shelves underneath!”

            “What a good idea,” replied Rosie.  “The last time I saw Ted he was complaining about how small his room is.  I guess necessity really is the mother of invention.”

It’s not over till it’s over.

            This saying means that you can never be sure what the outcome of something (a football game, a book, or even life) will be until the very end.

Ex:  “I can’t take this movie,” Chase whispered to Juan.  “The forces of evil are going to win.  There’s no way the hero can survive in a cave full of poisonous gases.”

            “Wait and see.  I bet he finds a way out,” said Juan.  “It’s not over till it’s over.”

Nothing will come of nothing/Nothing comes of nothing.

            This saying tells us that without effort, you can’t accomplish anything.

Ex:  “The band needs a new saxophone player, but I’ll never be chosen,” said Lauren.

            “I think you should try,” Midori replied.  “Nothing comes of nothing.  But if you audition, you might get in.”

Once bitten, twice shy.

            If a dog bites you, you will probably be very careful to stay clear of dogs after that.  This saying means that people tend to protect themselves from being hurt, especially if they’ve been hurt before.

Ex:  “Why didn’t Lee enter the science fair?” asked Jim.  “The volcano she made last year was great.”

            “Once bitten, twice shy,” said Jenna.  “She heard some kids making fun of her entry last year, so she wouldn’t enter this year.”

Procrastination is the thief of time.

            Procrastination means putting things off.  If you put off doing something, then you may not have enough time left to do it once you finally get started.  Thus, procrastination “steals” your time.

Ex:  “I thought you came up here to study for your spelling test,” said Maria’s brother, “and here you are cleaning your room”

            “I can’t study in a messy room,” Maria protested.

            “If you keep cleaning you won’t have any time left to study:  procrastination is the thief of time, you know.”

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

            This saying means that you can’t judge something until you try it.

Ex:  “Zach told me the new space adventure movie is great,” said Lydia.

            “Well, I usually don’t like the same moves he does,” Seth answered.  “But the proof of the pudding is in the eating.  Let’s go see it tonight.”

Rome wasn’t built in a day.

            Do you remember the story of ancient Rome?  It took many people many decades to build that imperial city.  People use this expression to mean that it takes a long time to achieve great things.  They often use it to counsel patience.

Ex:  Anna looked up from the rows of seeds she was planting.  “Oh, the garden will never be finished!”

            “Cheer up,” her uncle said.  “After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day.  By August you’ll have the best beans, tomatoes, and squash you’ve ever tasted!”

A stitch in time saves nine

            By taking a little care early, you may save yourself a lot of trouble later.  This saying is similar to “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  Can you see how the proverb is based on the activity of sewing?

Ex:  Marie’s father was reading the yellow pages.  

            “What are you looking for, Dad?” she asked.

            “I’m looking for a chimney sweep.  We need to get the chimney cleaned before too much soot builds up inside.  A chimney fire can ruin a chimney or worse.  A stitch in time saves nine, I always say.”

Strike while the iron is hot.

            To work on metal, a blacksmith heats the metal and then strikes it with a huge mallet.  Cold metal isn’t easily shaped.  So people use this saying to mean that you should do something while the circumstances are in your favor.

Ex:  “Maggie sure is in a good mood today,” thought Luke.  “I think I’ll strike while the iron is hot and ask her if I can borrow her chess set.”

There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

            There are many ways to accomplish something or take care of a difficult situation.  If one way doesn’t work, you can always try another.

Ex:  “What am I going to do?” said Kristen with a sigh.  “I need to learn these verbs for the Spanish test tomorrow, but I’ve been reading the list over and over and I still can’t remember them.”

            “There’s more than one way to skin a cat,” replied her sister.  “Let’s make up sentences for each verb.  Maybe that will help.”

Truth is stranger than fiction.

            Things that happen n real life can be more unusual or surprising than things that people make up in stories.

Ex:  When I read that the same couple had been married three times, once in an airplane, once in a hot-air balloon, and once in an elevator, I decided tht truth really is stranger than fiction!

To have a bee in your bonnet

            If a bee flew into your hat, wouldn’t you be intent on getting it out?  People say that someone has a bee in her bonnet if she is annoyed by or obsessed with something.

Ex:  “The school nurse really has a bee in his bonnet about healthy food.  But I’ll be glad if he gets the cafeteria to offer a salad bar at last.”

To bite the dust

            When someone is defeated, we sometimes use this saying.  It originated from physical combat, when people fell facedown in the dust.

Ex:  “Despite a valiant effort, the Blue Demons bite the dust, and our own Bobcats have won again! Cheered the announcer.

Catch as catch can

            This phrase describes a situation in which someone must make do with whatever is available at the moment.

Ex:  “We don’t have as many instruments as we do students,” said the music teacher, “so bring in your kazoos, your harmonicas, even empty coffee cans.  It’s pretty much catch as catch can, but we’ll still sound great.”

Eat humble pie.

            “Humble” means “modest.”  Humble pie, which originally had no relation to being humble, was a meat pie made of animal intestines.  The expression “eat humble pie” came to stand for the unpleasant situation in which you are forced to admit your mistakes or weaknesses.

Ex:  Carlos bragged that he was the fastest runner in the school, but he had to eat humble pie when he came in last at the time trials.

Give the devil his due.

            This proverb means that even if you don’t like someone, you can still give that person credit for his or her good points.

Ex:  Everyone agrees that the new math teacher assigns a lot of homework.  But you have to give the devil his due – all of us have learned a lot of math!

Nose out of joint

            Someone’s nose is out of joint (that is, not in its normal position) if he or she is annoyed.

Ex:  Ian and Chung Ho were playing backgammon.  “Hold on, you can’t take all of those pieces,” said Chung Ho irritably.

            “Don’t get your nose out of joint,” Ian said.  “I’m just separating the red pieces from the black pieces.”

On tenterhooks

            People use this idiom to mean “nervously waiting for something to happen.”

Ex:  Elizabeth waited for the cast list to be posted.  As the minutes passed, she grew more and more anxious. At last Mrs. Marks came out of the office and taped it to the door.

            “Thank goodness, I got a part!” cried Elizabeth.  “I was on tenterhooks all morning.”

Pot calling the kettle black

            Since most pots and kettles were once made of the same black metal, this phrase is used when you criticize someone for having a fault that you yourself possess.

Ex:  Matt and Gino were eating potato salad at a family picnic.

            “You’re really wolfing it down!” said Matt.

            “Listen to the pot calling the kettle black!” said Gino.  “You’ve eaten twice as much as I have.”

 R.I.P.

            The abbreviation for “Rest in Peace” is commonly used on gravestones.

Ex:  As she walked through the colonial cemetery, Nora saw many stones ornately carved with the letters R.I.P.

Rule of thumb

            In contrast to an official rule or an exact measurement, a rule of thumb is a general principle or a rough estimate that has been shown by experience to work.

Ex:  “I’m going to get some potato chips.  Want some?” Dorothy asked her brother.

            “Nope, my rule of thumb while I’m training for the race is ‘Don’t eat anything you enjoy too much,” said Andrew.

Tempest in a teapot

            A tempest is a very large storm, and a teapot is quite small.  We use this expression when a large commotion is made over something pretty little.

Ex:  “Being Rapunzel for Halloween was my idea.  Mandy stole my idea, and I’m never going to speak to her again,” Janice shouted.

            “Don’t make a tempest in a teapot,” said Janice’s sister.  “A costume isn’t worth losing your best friend over.”

Tenderfoot

A tenderfoot is a person who doesn’t have very much experience at something.

Ex:  After Pete and Joe had pitched their tent, Pete began to hoist the food bag into a tree.

            “What are you doing that for?” asked Joe.

            “So the raccoons and bears don’t get your breakfast, tenderfoot,” replied Pete.

Wolf in sheep’s clothing

            This phrase describes someone who appears to be harmless or friendly but who is really dangerous or untrustworthy.  It comes from a fable by Aesop.

Ex:  “I can’t believe Ron took my idea for his history report.  He said he was just interested in hearing about what I was working on.  What a wolf in sheep’s clothing!”