King Trump Canute be like..

[Soph0571]

[W]hen at the summit of his power, he [Cnut] ordered a seat to be placed for him on the sea-shore when the tide was coming in; thus seated, he shouted to the flowing sea, “Thou, too, art subject to my command, as the land on which I am seated is mine; and no one has ever resisted my commands with impunity. I command you, then, not to flow over my land, nor presume to wet ihe feet and the robe of your lord.” The tide, however, continuing to rise as usual, dashed over his feet and legs without respect to his royal person. Then the king leaped backwards, saying: “Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings, for there is none worthy of the name, but He whom heaven, earth, and sea obey by eternal laws.”1

[link:https://garethrees.org/2019/04/21/cnut/|]

Double Whammy - the tide of impeachment and the blue wave. Heh.

[CurtEastPoint]

1. Never seen the original spelling -- Cnut -- and I have to admit I snickered.

[jberryhill]

2. It's sad the way the King Canute story is depicted

The story is generally depicted as an act of hubris on Canute's part.

But it is clear that the entire point of the exercise was Canute's intent to demonstrate that the power of kings is limited.

It wasn't Canute who thought he had unlimited power, but his overzealous fans.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cnut_the_Great


He is popularly invoked in the context of the legend of King Canute and the tide, which often misrepresents him as a deluded monarch believing he has supernatural powers, contrary to the original legend which portrays a wise king who rebuked his courtiers for their fawning behaviour.

[DavidDvorkin]

3. Yes!

Thank you for pointing that out.