The Churchill Series - May 8, 2009

(One of a series of weekday posts about the life of Winston S. Churchill.)

You know about nit-pickers, don’t you?

You do something and get it 99% right. But there’s Nitty Picker standing up before the whole town saying:

“Did you all see what that person who reads The Churchill Series got wrong? You did? Well, let me tell you about it anyway.”

Churchill knew all about nit-pickers. Some in the press were on him even during WW II, when he gave magnificent leadership.

Churchill was fond of telling this apt, humorous story to put the nit-pickers in their place.

“A sailor jumped into the water at Plymouth to rescue a small boy from drowning. A week later the sailor was accosted by a woman who asked, “Are you the man who picked my son out of the water the other night?

“That is true, ma’am” replied the sailor. “I am the man.”

“Ah,” said the woman. “You are the man I am looking for. Where is his cap?”

I hope you all have a nice weekend. If you have the time, give a look to historian John Plumton's speech in which I found the sailor and cap story. I think you'll be glad you did.

Best,

John
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Sailor and cap story from John Plumpton, "Two Great Men, Two Great Themes," speech, The Churchill Centre.