God knows, we have been offered enough minacious parables over the centuries to discourage both of these stubborn delusions — from The Iliad and Oedipus Rex to The Picture of Dorian Gray and Richard Cory — but still they survive, eternal inverities.

I think putting oil on a burn is the worst thing you can do.

So instead of calling out the nitty-gritty of political blunders by pinning the blame on the military, it’s time we look at the bigger picture and judge our paper generals on actual policy work.

O thou, whom poets call Melpomene, Who hast inspir'd, the dear knows how many In ancient times to sing O Dear O's On hapless fates of unknown heroes,