Country Drains Quote by Bruce Bairnsfather
““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.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Uncivil War by Bruce Bairnsfather, 1916
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.
