The “light at the end of the tunnel” – from Joseph Alsop and Robert Lowell to Hunter Thompson

THE PRO-WAR JOURNALIST’S FAMOUS QUOTE: “At last there is light at the end of the tunnel.”        Joseph Alsop (1910-1989)        American journalist and newspaper columnist         An oft-cited comment he made about the Vietnam War in his September 13, 1965 syndicated column         Many books and websites about quotations or the Vietnam War mention this line by Alsop. It’s often assumed to be either the origin of the metaphor or the first use related to Vietnam. In fact, the figurative use of “light at the end of the tunnel” dates back to at least 1922. And, ironically, it had been used in reference to Vietnam in 1953 by French general Henri Navarre, who told reporters he could see France’s eventual success in its war with communist leader Ho Chi Minh’s troops “clearly, like light at the end of a tunnel.” A year later, Minh’s troops decisively defeated French forces at the battle of Dien Bien Phu and France lost control of its former colony. Joseph Alsop’s use of “light at the end of the tunnel” in 1965 was in a column predicting that America would eventually defeat Ho Chi Minh’s troops in Vietnam. Alsop said the French lost because they fought “with grossly insufficient resources.” He wrote: “This is in fact the real flaw in the argument of the silly people who parrot the assertion that this kind of war cannot be won, because the French failed...Today, however, American power is fully committed here, side by side with the considerable and courageous army of South Viet Nam. The American troops in the country already number more than 100,000. And eventually the U.S. force in South Viet Nam is likely to reach 200,000...at last there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Of course, 10 years later, after more than 58,000 Americans had been killed (along with an estimated 2 million Vietnamese troops and civilians), America essentially lost the war and pulled out of Vietnam.

THE ANTI-WAR POET’S COUNTERQUOTE: “If we can see light at the end of the tunnel It’s the light of the oncoming train.”        Robert Lowell (1917-1977)        American poet, World War II conscientious objector and anti-Vietnam activist         These lines are from “Since 1939,” a poem originally published in Lowell’s book Day by Day (1977)

DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN: “Leon Panetta leaving the CIA to replace [Robert] Gates at the Pentagon and General David Petraeus taking Panetta’s job in Langley just seems like a revolving door that bodes ill (more drone attacks and missile strikes) for the people in the AF/Pak  war...There seems no light at the end of the dark tunnel U.S. policy makers have put us in and which most Americans continue to enable with their passive indifference.”        Dave Lefcourt        American blogger and book author        In an opinion piece about the war in Afghanistan and U.S. military operations in Pakistan, posted on the OpEdNews site, June 11, 2011

DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN — AGAIN: “When Mr Obama assured the UN and the world that the ‘kinetic military action’ would quickly subdue Libyan military forces, he forgot an axiom of war. It is easy for a national leader to start one; but once started, it is impossible to stop...NATO airstrikes have fostered a war, which has turned into an inconclusive trudge through the swamp. Not only is there no light at the end of the tunnel, there appears to be no tunnel.”        A Bangkok Post editorial titled “What are they doing in Libya?” (June 10, 2011)

HUNTER THOMPSON’S OBSERVATION: “This was the fatal flaw in Tim Leary’s trip. He crashed around America selling ‘consciousness expansion’ without ever giving a thought to the grim meat-hook realities that were lying in wait for all the people who took him too seriously...a generation of permanent cripples, failed seekers, who never understood the essential old-mystic fallacy of the Acid Culture: the desperate assumption that somebody — or at least some force — is tending that light at the end of the tunnel.”        Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005)        American “gonzo” journalist and novelist        In his novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1971), about the darkly comic misadventures of the semi-autobiographical character “Raoul Duke.” (A slightly altered version of these words are also spoken by Johnny Depp, as Raoul Duke, at the end of Terry Gilliam’s 1998 film adaptation of Thompson’s novel.)

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“God helps them that help themselves.”

FRANKLIN’S FAMOUS VERSION OF AN ANCIENT SAYING: “God helps them that help themselves.”        Popularized by Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)        American statesman, scientist, author and publisher        Franklin included this in Poor Richard’s Almanack, which he published from 1732 to 1758. Its appearance in his widely-read almanac helped popularize the saying in America, but Franklin didn’t coin it. There are various other earlier versions. “God helps those who help themselves” was used in 1698 by British politician Algernon Syney. Other variations date back as far as Aesop’s Fables, written in the sixth century BC. The moral of Aesop’s fable “Hercules and the Waggoner” (sometimes spelled Wagoner or Wagoneer) is traditionally translated as “The gods help them that help themselves.” It is widely, but wrongly, believed that “God helps them that help themselves” comes from the Bible. In fact, it doesn’t.

THE ANTI-THIEVERY COUNTERQUOTE: “God never helps those who are caught helping themselves.”        A humorous American proverb of unknown origin        Cited in A Dictionary of American Proverbs

THE THIEF’S COUNTER-COUNTERQUOTE: “God may not help those who help themselves, but you’ll notice he don’t stand in front of you with no flaming sword and say, ‘What you got there?’”        Stephen Longstreet (pen name of Henri Weiner; 1907-2002)        American author, artist and scriptwriter         Comment by a character in his novel All or Nothing (1983)

THE RICH MAN’S GOSPEL: “In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves...Neither the individual nor the race is improved by alms giving. Those worthy of assistance, except in rare cases, seldom require assistance.”        Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919)        American businessman and philanthropist who was the richest man in the world in his day        This quotes comes from Carnegie’s essay “Wealth,” fist published in the North American Review in June 1889, then included in his book The Gospel of Wealth (1891).

THE EURODANCE RAP VARIATION: “What we need to do is take ourselves from the shelf ‘Cause God won’t help those who won't help themselves While you sit on your asses with rose colored glasses, hey – Brutes build troops and masses, believe me.”        Snap!        A revolving group of Eurodance musicians and rappers based in Germany         Lyrics from their song “Angel (Rays of Love)” (2004)

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“Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.”

THE FAMOUS PENCE AND POUNDS QUOTE: “Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.”         William Lowndes (1652-1724)        British politician        Quoted by Lord Chesterfield (Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield) in a letter to his son, dated Feb. 5, 1750

DOROTHY PARKER’S COUNTERQUOTE: “Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves.”         Dorothy Parker (1893-1967)        American writer and critic        A quip widely attributed to Parker, though possibly originated by Oscar Wilde

NOEL COWARD’S PANSY ANECDOTE: “Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound brought his boat in...and Noel [Coward] and friends — Doris Casterlosse, Ivor Novello, Douglas Fairbanks and Lady Ashley — went aboard for parties. Lady Casterlosse and Coward were given an open guest list by Sir Dudley and Lady Pound for one party. Casterlosse confided, ‘Noel, I have a dreadful feeling we've asked too many queer people.’ Coward reassured her, ‘If we take care of the pansies, the Pounds will take care of themselves.’”        Noel Coward (1899-1973)        British playwright and composer         From Philip Hoare’s book Noël Coward: A Biography (1998)

AN AVID GARDENER’S ADVICE: “If you take care of your peonies, the dahlias will look after themselves.”         Franklin P. Adams (1881-1960)         American writer and avid gardener         Adams’ variously-reported response when asked how he grew the prize dahlias in his garden. (The pun was probably already in use among avid gardeners.)

HARLAN ELLISON’S ADVICE: “A very few, as heroes, patriots, martyrs, reformers in the great sense, and men, serve the state with their consciences also, and so necessarily resist it for the most part; and they are commonly treated as enemies by it. That is the heart of it. Now begin in the middle, and later learn the beginning; the end will take care of itself.”          Harlan Ellison (b. 1943)         American author and screenwriter        In his famous, non-linear science fiction story, “Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman (1965)

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“First, do no harm.” (“Primum non nocere.”)

THE FAMOUS ALLEGED DOCTORS’ OATH: “First, do no harm.” (“Primum non nocere.”)        Commonly attributed to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 460 B.C. - c. 377 B.C.)        It is widely — and wrongly — believed that this phrase was written by Hippocrates and is part of the “The Hippocratic Oath” that doctors take. In reality, the Hippocratic Oath was written by the early followers of Hippocrates, not by Hippocrates himself. Moreover, the phrase “First, do no harm” (“Primum non nocere” in Latin) does not appear in the original version or modern versions of the Hippocratic Oath and there is no legal requirement for doctors to take this oath, though it is a tradition at most medical schools.

THE ALLEGED ALTERNATE OATH OF SOME DOCTORS: “First, do no harm. Second, leave no wallet with anything other than a condom in it.”        From a post by the anonymous author of The Enlightening Nonsense blog        His view on the high fees charged by some physicians and medical clinics

AN ECO-MINDED BUDDHIST’S CODE: “First, do no harm; second, do what you can to relieve suffering. It’s bound to be a slow process and is part of what the Dalai Lama has called ‘ethics for a new millennium.’” Everyone must take responsibility for the well-being of the planet.”        Arnold Kozak        From Kozak’s Buddhism, The Everything Buddhism Book (2011)

A NINJA’S CODE: “The rule is: first, do no harm; second, never make a challenge; third, never turn down a challenge.”        Ashida Kim         Marshal arts code in Kim’s book The Invisible Fist: Secret Ninja Methods of Vanishing Without a Trace (1998)

A TYPICAL POLITICIAN’S CODE: “The doctor’s code is, ‘First — do no harm.’ The politician’s code is, ‘First — go on television.”        Guillermo Del Toro, with co-author Chuck Hogan        Said by the character Dr. Barnes, in their modern vampire novel The Strain (2009)

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A new (and highly-recommended) book of quotations: NEVERISMS: A Quotation Lover's Guide to Things You Should Never Do, Never Say, or Never Forget By quotation maven Dr. Mardy Grothe

 

“A bridge too far” – then and now…

THE FAMOUS WORLD WAR II QUOTE: “I think we might be going a bridge too far.”        Lt. General Frederick “Boy” Browning (1896-1965)        British military officer        Comment to Field Marshal Montgomery on September 10, 1944, expressing doubts about the Allied plan to capture the bridge at Arnhem from the Germans as part of “Operation Market Garden.” Browning’s concern turned out to be prophetic. The attempt to take the bridge failed and thousands of British soldiers were killed, wounded and captured. In 1974, Browning’s phrase “a bridge too far” was used by historian Cornelius Ryan as the title of his best-selling book about this event. The book was made into the 1977 film A Bridge Too Far, which featured an all-star cast. The popularity of the book and movie helped make “a bridge too far” — and variations on it — an idiomatic way saying that something is flawed because it is excessive or otherwise goes “too far.”

GOVERNOR BREWER’S BIRTHER SMACKDOWN: “I never imagined being presented with a bill that could require candidates for president of the greatest and most powerful nation on Earth to submit their ‘early baptismal or circumcision certificates,’ among other records, to the Arizona Secretary of State. This is a bridge too far.”        Arizona Governor Jan Brewer        Comment to the press on April 18, 2011, explaining why she vetoed a wacky bill concocted by “Birthers” who refuse to believe that President Barack Obama was born in the United States.

RICK SANTORUM’S LAME REMARK ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE: “Marriage is an institution that’s a bridge too far for too many African-American woman and is not desirable among African-American males.”        Sen. Rick Santorum        Conservative Republican senator and presidential candidate        Comment to the press on June 2, 2009, demonstrating again why the top result when you Google “Santorum” seems highly appropriate.

HILLARY CLINTON’S LAME QUIP ABOUT CHINESE PEOPLE: “I don’t know whether you and I will play ping-pong in public. That may be a bridge too far.”        Hillary Rodham Clinton        U.S. Secretary of State        Remark to Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong at a U.S.-China diplomatic event in Washington, DC, April 12, 2011, lamely referencing the Nixon-era matches between Chinese and American ping pong players in 1971, which was then a historic sign of a thaw in U.S.-Chinese relations (commonly referred to as “ping pong diplomacy”).

THE DONALD TRUMP VARIATION: “Visualising this brash casino-owner and his Slovenian ex-model trophy wife Melania in the White House is a stretch but hardly a stretch too far when US voters have elected an actor for president, a muscle-bound Austrian-American action star for Governor of California and a Slovak-American wrestler as Governor of Minnesota.”        Linda S. Heard         British journalist          In an April 12, 2011 commentary in the Dubai-based Gulf News on the possibility of Donald Trump being elected President of the United States.

THE JENNIFER GARNER VARIATION: “[Agatha Christie] fans are most furious about the decision...Purists think the remake is a crime too far. But we think our sizzling shots of Garner, star of hit movies Elektra and Juno, show it’s no mystery why audiences might want to see her in the role.”        Adam Thorn        Columnist for the UK News of the World        In an April 3, 2011 story about negative reactions to the casting of Jennifer Garner as Agatha Christie’s character Miss Marple in an upcoming movie remake.

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