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To give a recipe for getting a rough idea, in case you…

“To give a recipe for getting a rough idea, in case you want to, I recommend the following procedure. Select a flat ten-acre ploughed field, so sited that all the surface water of the surrounding country drains into it. Now cut a zig-zag slot about four feet deep and three feet wide diagonally…” quote by Bruce Bairnsfather
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““To give a recipe for getting a rough idea, in case you want to, I recommend the following procedure. Select a flat ten-acre ploughed field, so sited that all the surface water of the surrounding country drains into it. Now cut a zig-zag slot about four feet deep and three feet wide diagonally across, dam off as much water as you can so as to leave about a hundred yards of squelchy mud; delve out a hole at one side of the slot, then endeavour to live there for a month on bully beef and damp biscuits, whilst a friend has instructions to fire at you with his Winchester every time you put your head above the surface.””

Bruce Bairnsfather

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A satirical, exaggerated plan for testing survival in a flooded field using a friend’s gunfire as a stressor.

In simple terms: A ridiculous survival test involving a flooded field and gunfire.

Key Takeaway

Don’t take extreme survival advice literally.

Themes

satire survival war humor

Mood

dark humor ironic

Type

satirical humorous

When to use this quote

  • military training
  • extreme sports
  • team building
  • psychological resilience

Key Concepts

exaggeration stress testing absurdity

Questions to Reflect On

  • Would you ever try such a dangerous experiment?
  • What does this say about wartime coping mechanisms?
A Different Perspective

The method is impractical and dangerous, not a genuine survival guide.

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