Robert Benchley

credits: Anna Aspnes

https://www.fadedpage.com/link.php?file=20130323-a5.pdf
https://www.fadedpage.com/books/20130323/html.php

Robert Benchley TAKE A LETTER, PLEASE
Probably one of the most potent causes of war in the world's history (this shapes up like a pretty broad statement, but my attorney tells me that I have adequate proofs) has been the giving out of statements, sometimes by mistake, which the giver-out is too proud to take back. A king or a dictator, a little behind in his phrase-making, has pulled a quick one like "Beyond the Alps lies Italy," "L'Etat, c'est moi," or "Never give a sucker an even break," and then has had to go through with it to save his face. A great many times all the trouble could have been avoided if the original speechmaker had been willing to say: "I guess I must have been cockeyed. I don't remember having said any such thing."

Journaling:
We were able to haul phones and computers over to the main building and check email. Dan sent me a page from one of his gazillion old books.