Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: aknimitz on April 05, 2004, 03:48:18 PM

Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: aknimitz on April 05, 2004, 03:48:18 PM: Ok, I need an intraoffice conflict resolved! I am 99.99999999999% positive he said "Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick" ... however, people in my office insist that he said "Talk Softly and Carry a Big Stick" ... I've looked a little on the internet, and there are resources that say both!

Can someone find me some definitive proof that I am right, please!??! :)

Thank you for your help.

Nim
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Ripsnort on April 05, 2004, 03:50:09 PM: Harry S. Truman stated: "Walk softly, but carry a big stick."

Edit: Doh! Teddy Roosevelt as though said below. I get those two mixed up for some reason (Not the persons, the names..)
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Steve on April 05, 2004, 03:50:53 PM: Actually it's both!
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Tarmac on April 05, 2004, 03:52:38 PM: Heh, I thought it was "speak softly, and carry a big stick."

ed: one source, crediting Teddy Roosevelt.

http://www.quotedb.com/quotes/1235

ed: another:

http://www.spicyquotes.com/html/Theodore_Roosevelt_Diplomacy.html
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: aknimitz on April 05, 2004, 03:52:46 PM: Truman or Roosevelt?
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Steve on April 05, 2004, 03:55:11 PM: Roosevelt
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: aknimitz on April 05, 2004, 03:56:12 PM: So - whats the quote??! :)

Nim
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: aknimitz on April 05, 2004, 03:58:22 PM: Ah, here's the best so far, looks like Tarmac may be right!

HERE! (http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/at0052as.jpg)

Nim
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Steve on April 05, 2004, 03:58:28 PM: both... "Speak softly" evolved into "walk softly."
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Tarmac on April 05, 2004, 03:59:33 PM: Speak softly and carry a big stick.

You and your coworkers are all wrong. :p
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: aknimitz on April 05, 2004, 04:02:09 PM: Steve, you gotta give me a little more proof :) I cannot just tell them "Steve said so" ... Tarmac, SHUDDUP! ;)

Nim
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Tarmac on April 05, 2004, 04:03:23 PM: Library of Congress website = teh win.

Didn't know it was an African proverb, or that it had the second part "you will go far."

At least your coworkers weren't right. :)
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Steve on April 05, 2004, 04:05:36 PM: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm139.html

Roosevelt said "Speak softly" it was later perverted to "Walk Softly". It originated as a West African proverb.
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: midnight Target on April 05, 2004, 04:33:26 PM: Cool. I always thought it was "walk". This BBS rocks.
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: AKIron on April 05, 2004, 05:09:56 PM: My grade school teacher said "chalk softly or get hit with a big stick". ;)
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: AKS\/\/ulfe on April 05, 2004, 05:15:15 PM: I stalk softly, and hold a small stick.
-SW
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: aknimitz on April 05, 2004, 05:15:45 PM: Okay okay, Im being lectured by the person who said he should win with "talk" because "talk" and "speak" are the same ... and that on foreign policy grounds, he knew it was one of the two because "walk" makes no sense in the context of that time period.

Someone, anyone, everyone - please help me defeat this person!!!!

Nim
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: ravells on April 05, 2004, 05:23:40 PM: This BBS does rock, I always thought it was 'walk softly' as well.

Ravs
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Tarmac on April 05, 2004, 05:26:53 PM: Quote
Originally posted by aknimitz
people in my office insist that he said "Talk Softly and Carry a Big Stick"

Talk and speak, while synonyms, aren't the same words. When talking quotes, the wording matters. Let's look at some examples:

"Give me liberty, or kill me."
"We have nothing to fear but being scared."
"What goes up, must hit the ground again."

Same meanings, but not the same quotability. They're trying to argue BS semantics... your coworkers aren't lawyers, are they?
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Pongo on April 05, 2004, 05:59:15 PM: Thats why the Germans fail..they talk loudly and carry a little stick.
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: GRUNHERZ on April 05, 2004, 06:03:31 PM: LOL Pongo. :)

What about Canada? You guys are very very quiet and you certainly dont have the budget for a stick of any considerable size, where and how far do you go?
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Ripsnort on April 05, 2004, 06:05:43 PM: Quote
Originally posted by Pongo
Thats why the Germans fail..they talk loudly and carry a little stick.

Actually, they carried a big stick, was the biggest at its time...they just used the stick too much! And too far! :)
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: ravells on April 05, 2004, 06:10:52 PM: I think Pongo was referring to the thread locked by Skuzzy. See below.

Ravs
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: GRUNHERZ on April 05, 2004, 06:12:49 PM: Quote
Originally posted by ravells
I think Pongo was referring to the thread locked by Skuzzy. See below.

Ravs

LOL :)
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Pongo on April 05, 2004, 06:15:37 PM: My stick is fine. GH...
And I trying to change everyones mind about Canadians speaking sofltly.
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: ravells on April 05, 2004, 06:19:03 PM: And I trying to change everyones mind about Canadians speaking sofltly.

That's just a national trait. And a good one.

Ravs
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: LAWCobra on April 05, 2004, 06:30:34 PM: I walk bowlegged with my BIG stick:aok
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: ravells on April 05, 2004, 06:33:17 PM: Well, everything's big in Texas! :aok

Ravs
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: midnight Target on April 05, 2004, 06:37:14 PM: Quote
Originally posted by aknimitz
Okay okay, Im being lectured by the person who said he should win with "talk" because "talk" and "speak" are the same ... and that on foreign policy grounds, he knew it was one of the two because "walk" makes no sense in the context of that time period.

Someone, anyone, everyone - please help me defeat this person!!!!

Nim

Yer Toast Nim.
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: LAWCobra on April 05, 2004, 06:37:48 PM: Well I aint gonna push the noodle one liners LOL I dont think Skuzzy is in the mood:(
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: ravells on April 05, 2004, 06:39:32 PM: Skuzzy live in Texas too! He may be flattered! :aok

Ravs
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Otto on April 05, 2004, 06:49:41 PM: In the 1950's I think the B-36 was sometimes referred to as 'the Big Stick'

(OK, OK, not that it's SO important but it's that language 'twist' where something looks like what it's role is. The B-36 looks like a 'stick' and that was it role in Foreign Policy. Maybe I'll go make another Martini and try again later)
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: LAWCobra on April 05, 2004, 06:58:01 PM: Quote
Originally posted by Otto
In the 1950's I think the B-36 was sometimes referred to as 'the Big Stick'

(OK, OK, not that it's SO important but it's that language 'twist' where something looks like what it's role is. The B-36 looks like a 'stick' and that was it role in Foreign Policy. Maybe I'll go make another Martini and try again later)

LOL thats Ok Im sober and I got It :(
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Thrawn on April 05, 2004, 08:21:26 PM: Mock softly so they don't think you're a salamander.
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: LAWCobra on April 05, 2004, 08:28:51 PM: Quote
Originally posted by Thrawn
Mock softly so they don't think you're a salamander.

I would say take your own advice .
But It would never work:aok
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: GRUNHERZ on April 05, 2004, 08:38:36 PM: Quote
Originally posted by Thrawn
Mock softly so they don't think you're a salamander.

Is that the Canadian motto then? :)
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Thrawn on April 05, 2004, 08:45:41 PM: Nah, it's "Claim to be a hemophiliac, and when they turn away in disgust, start kicking some back."

;)

"A Mari usque ad Mare"
Title: Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick?
Post by: Dune on April 05, 2004, 11:45:15 PM: BTW, the nickname of the USS Theodore Roosevelt is "The Big Stick"