'I once sent a telegram to 12 of my friends saying ALL IS DISCOVERED - FLEE AT ONCE. They all left town immediately.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A dramatic warning can cause immediate panic and action.
- In plain terms
- Fearful messages make people flee quickly.
- What can you take from it?
- Beware of alarmist language.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is urgency justified?
- How do we verify warnings?
Another view
Not all urgent messages are genuine.
More from Samuel Langhorne Clemens
A lie can make it half way around the world before the truth has time to put its boots on. (This has also been attributed to Winston Churchill.)
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