Strategic Retreat
Two trucks met on a road that was too narrow to allow them pass each other. “Get out of my way,” yelled one driver
“You get out of mine. Who do you think you are, anyway?” came the answer.
“I don’t have to,” said the one.
“I don’t want to,” said the other.
Words led to deeds and a real free-for-all ensued
Finally the first truck driver issued a final threat, “Listen, you. I’m asking you for the last time: are you going to get out of my way or do you want to get the same treatment I gave someone else this morning?”
That sounded like a serious threat, so the second driver gave in and said, “Okay; then help me to shove my truck off to the side a bit. Otherwise, there won’t be enough room for you to pass.”
Within a few minutes this maneuver was over, and so was the disagreement. But before they parted and went their separate ways, the second driver asked the first one confidentially, “You threatened that you would do to me what you did to another driver this morning. Tell me confidentially, what did you do?”
“Well, he was a hulk of a man and wouldn’t budge …. so I backed up and got out of his way.”
_ Johann Peter Hebel
“Prudence is the better part of valour.” If prudence rather than emotions would prevail, how wonderful our world would be!