One of the above aphorisms reminded me of this bit of history—

The western Pyrenees, between Spain and France, is inhabited by the descendants of early inhabitants from before Roman times. They are known as Basques, and at times have been fiercely independent. On one occasion, the Spanish attempted to conquer them and "bring them to heel."

The leaders gathered their people into a particular castle where they knew the Spanish oppressors would besiege them and attempt to starve them out.

But this was a tactic. There was a passage that started inside the castle, went under the moat, and ended in the nearby woods, and when the siege began, they planned to show fierce resistance, but when night fell and the besiegers backed off, they would all slip out the secret tunnel. The following morning the Spanish would seize an empty castle, and the rebel leaders would be safely away!

When night fell and the Spanish camped outside the castle walls to wait to resume their onslaught at daybreak, the rebels all slipped into the passageway, headed under the moat, and continued on until they emerged in the far woods.

Or they would have. Were it not that the Spanish knew about the passage, and as the rebels emerged from the opening in the woods, they were immediately captured!

The moral of the story?

Don't put all your Basques in one exit!

(I'll go now……)

Don Firth