Ever fall on your sword?
Silly question…if you had, in its historic sense, you wouldn’t be reading this…
But maybe you know someone who has…?
If you have been using the idiom like I do – it connotes believing in an idea so fiercely, so passionately that you would do anything – anything – to see it fulfilled. And – funnily enough – it’s usually used to infer what won’t happen – as in: “Some big idea – he won’t fall on his sword for it”; or, “Are you nuts????? Do you think I’d fall on my sword for that?” Rarely have I heard – “Oh my God, what an amazing session – she was ready to fall on her sword to sell her thinking.”
Turns out the original usage was centered around accountability. Predating the Japanese tradition, it was the ultimate expression of assuming liability for a screw up. I imagine if you did it – no one would question the fact that it was your f— up and, by extension, no one else could be blamed – passionate management…if a little final.
In its current usage it’s also about accountability…of sorts. Of sorts I say, because I’m not sure if the stakes are quite the same.
When you think about my example above – “…he won’t fall on his sword for it,” the connotation is that someone won’t take accountability for an idea rather than the older usage denoting accountability for an action (or even an inaction) that had some greater effect in the world – most likely negative.
Now – I’m all about passion – and believe that no idea gets to see the light of day without it – but ideas are, at their best, living, growing things – the best ones don’t stop growing because it’s mine or yours – au contraire – they get better and better as they get shared and built on.
And so the question – would you fall on your sword for your idea?
Listen:
“To be willing to die for an idea is to set a rather high price on conjecture.” Anatole France
Now – let’s be clear before the stones are thrown – I get that ideas like freedom ignite a different set of passions – I’m not talking about that kind of sacrifice….
The way I see it – we live in a world where the ability to think, to speculate, to imagine – has never been greater and where the reward for success in dreaming has never been bigger.
Let me be clear again – I don’t mean speculation like Jon Corzine – no doubt many would like to see him fall on his sword – and, in fact, a good part of the 99% movement revolves around the notion that no one has yet fallen on their swords in accountability or contrition for economic speculation…your call if you think he/they should.
But as we envision, as we conceive and innovate – it seems to me that Anatole has the right idea.
Be passionate – very passionate – but choose your sword falling wisely….and its corollary – what are you willing to kill for….
“The one serious conviction that a man should have is that nothing is to be taken too seriously.” Nicholas Butler
Imagine how much better the world would be….
What’s your view?
By the way, if you should insist on the sword…:
http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/HowTo:Fall_on_your_sword
” Be passionate – very passionate – but choose your sword falling wisely….”
I completely agree that choosing wisely is key. I have seen too many people choosing poorly and along with falling on their swords, are last seen “going down with the ship.. “
‘Fall On Sword’ also means the practical political act of protecting superiors, commonly seen in the world of politics, via a subordinate resigning in an effort to stop or slow accountability from damaging the top. Such an act is often cravenly strategic, voluntary or not. It is not fatal to the impailed in most cases, due to the revolving door of government-industry-universities-military-contractors.
I can’t wait for the ancillary follow-up: ‘Thrown Under Bus!’
I agree, David – ideas ARE merely conjecture, until they are executed and realized, and, as I wrote in an article earlier this year (http://www.talentzoo.com/news/The-Art-and-Science-of-Stratecution/9205.html), even the best strategy in the world is only a hypothesis. I might dive on a sword for a brilliantly “stratecuted” campaign, though!
http://stratecutionstories.wordpress.com
It’s a good question. It keeps us honest.
Another expression that I really like that helps navigate this question, is ‘Be flexible to circumstance but stand firm to principle.’
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What does falling on one’s sword really mean? I think it means committing suicide. Usually, for a cause. Especially, if the alternative is surrender or capture. So, David, are you asking if we are prepared to commit professional suicide by sacrificing our careers rather than give up on our ideas? Let me ask the question another way: are you prepared to sacrifice the company’s income by resigning a piece of business when our ideas are refused? Now, that would be really falling on your sword. But to plagiarize the Bard: the idea is mightier than the sword. As a creative person, I find it impossible to believe that any idea, no matter how good I believe it to be at a given point in time, can’t be followed by another one even better. So, should I fall on my sword for an idea? That would mean missing out on the best (of me) that’s yet to come.
Mike — you nail the point — but I have walked away from business where I felt that our values were not being repsected.
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I suggest adding a facebook like button for the blog!
Helen