Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2020 March 30

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March 30

Lloyd George quotation

I am looking for the original source of a quotation widely attributed to David Lloyd George - "Don't be afraid to take a big step. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps". Duncan Brack; Robert Ingham, eds. (1999). Dictionary of Liberal Quotations. London: Politico's Publishing. p. 113. ISBN 1902301145. includes the quotation with the note "attributed". It is not one of the "Maxims" included in Lloyd George, David (1929). Guedalla, Philip (ed.). Slings and Arrows - Sayings Chosen from the Speeches of the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, OM, MP. London: Cassell and Company, Ltd. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |editorlink= ignored (|editor-link= suggested) (help) Thank you, DuncanHill (talk) 12:16, 30 March 2020 (UTC)

Wikiquote gives this as a variant of the saying "There is nothing more dangerous than to leap a chasm in two jumps", while noting this has been variously ascribed to Lloyd George, Benjamin Disraeli, Winston Churchill, Vaclav Havel, Jeffrey Sachs, Rashi Fein, Walter Bagehot and Philip Noel-Baker. That is a sure sign someone made it up and put it in someone else's mouth to give it more weight.  --Lambiam 14:15, 30 March 2020 (UTC)

Quote Investigator looked into this and seems to have found the original in volume two of the “War Memoirs of David Lloyd George” (published 1933). There is no greater mistake than to try to leap an abyss in two jumps. They also found that Lloyd George was riffing on a common expression that they traced back to 1873. Here is the quote in the Memoirs. 70.67.193.176 (talk) 20:24, 31 March 2020 (UTC)

Many thanks @70.67.193.176! I had an idea I'd seen some form of the sentiment in one or other of his books, but had been searching for "chasm" not "abyss". I'll make citebooks for the three editions (First British in 6 volumes, American in 6 volumes, New British in two volumes) here for the convenience of others in the future.

First British (in six volumes) - Lloyd George, David (1933). "XXIV: Disintegration of the Liberal Party". War Memoirs. Vol. 2 (1st ed.). London: Ivor Nicholson & Watson. p. 740.

American (in six volumes) - Lloyd George, David (1933). "VII: Disintegration of the Liberal Party". War Memoirs of David Lloyd George. Vol. 2: 1915-1916. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company. p. 184.

New British (in two volumes) - Lloyd George, David (1938). "XXIV: Disintegration of the Liberal Party". War Memoirs. Vol. 1 (New ed.). London: Odhams Press Limited. p. 445.

Again, very much appreciated. DuncanHill (talk) 21:22, 31 March 2020 (UTC)

You're welcome! We don't manage to answer all your Lloyd George questions but it's very satisfying when we can :) And they are always interesting to research! 70.67.193.176 (talk) 22:25, 31 March 2020 (UTC)

The real basis of the film "Apocalypse Now"?

Was there a real prototype for Colonel Kurtz, who had come out of obedience? --Vyacheslav84 (talk) 13:37, 30 March 2020 (UTC)

The character is based on the corresponding character of Kurtz in Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness. See Heart of Darkness#Composition and publication for some information on likely sources for Kurtz. --Jayron32 13:48, 30 March 2020 (UTC)

You linked the article; did you read Colonel Kurtz#Inspiration? If so, then perhaps you can clarify in what way it didn't address your question. -- ToE 05:06, 31 March 2020 (UTC)