Rincewind is a fictional character appearing in several of the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett. He is a failed student at the Unseen University for wizards in Ankh-Morpork, and is often described by scholars as "the magical equivalent to the number zero". He spends just about all of his time running away from various bands of people who want to kill him for various reasons. The fact that he's still alive and running is explained in that, although he was born with a wizard's spirit, he has the body of a long-distance sprinter. Rincewind is also reputed for being able to solve minor problems by turning them into major disasters. His unique "skill" is implied to be due to being the chosen one of "The Lady", the anthropomorphic personification of luck (both good and bad).
Rincewind was portrayed by David Jason in the film adaption of The Colour of Magic and Pratchett said in an interview that he unwittingly took Rincewind's name from "Churm Rincewind", a fictitious person referred to in early "'Beachcomber" columns in the Daily Express.
Wisdom calls aloud in the street
She raises her voice in the public squares
At the noisy streets she cries out
In the gateways of the city she makes her speech
How long will you simple ones
love your simple ways?
How long will mockers boast
and fools hate knowledge?
I would have poured out my heart to you
And made my thoughts known to you
Seek me while you can
Or it will be to late
Then you will call to me
But I will not answer
Since you rejected me when I called
Since you ignored all my advice
And would not accept my rebuke
I in turn will laugh at your disaster
How long will you simple ones
love your simple ways?
How long will mockers boast
and fools hate knowledge?
I would have poured out my heart to you
And made my thoughts known to you
Seek me while you can!
They will call to me
But I will not answer
They will look for me
But they will not find me
Since they hated knowledge
And did not choose to fear the Lord
They will eat the fruit of their ways
And be filled with the fruit of their schemes
The waywardness of the simple will kill them
The complacency of fools will destroy them
Whoever listens to me will live in safety
And be at ease without fear of harm
How long will you simple ones
love your simple ways?
How long will mockers boast
and fools hate knowledge?