How to deal with pompous sticklers
“Pomposity and pretentiousness received very short shrift from him. When a general, a stickler for punctuality and held in no great affection, paid an official visit, Cubiss arranged for all the clocks in the camp to be put forward by five minutes. The great man arrived to find Cubiss, a picture of exasperation, tapping his ...
"Pomposity and pretentiousness received very short shrift from him. When a general, a stickler for punctuality and held in no great affection, paid an official visit, Cubiss arranged for all the clocks in the camp to be put forward by five minutes. The great man arrived to find Cubiss, a picture of exasperation, tapping his watch."
“Pomposity and pretentiousness received very short shrift from him. When a general, a stickler for punctuality and held in no great affection, paid an official visit, Cubiss arranged for all the clocks in the camp to be put forward by five minutes. The great man arrived to find Cubiss, a picture of exasperation, tapping his watch.”
This is from a good obituary in the Daily Telegraph of Brig. Malcolm Cubiss.
(HT to down-under PL)
Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1
More from Foreign Policy
Chinese Hospitals Are Housing Another Deadly Outbreak
Authorities are covering up the spread of antibiotic-resistant pneumonia.
Henry Kissinger, Colossus on the World Stage
The late statesman was a master of realpolitik—whom some regarded as a war criminal.
The West’s False Choice in Ukraine
The crossroads is not between war and compromise, but between victory and defeat.
The Masterminds
Washington wants to get tough on China, and the leaders of the House China Committee are in the driver’s seat.
Sign up for World Brief
FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day, written by Alexandra Sharp. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.