Quote
NEH DAQ MAY' 'OH TLHINGAN TEH TLHINGAN
ONLY IN BATTLE IS A KLINGON TRULY KLINGON
meQtaHbogh qachDaq Suv qoH neH
English Translation:Only a Fool Fights in a Burning House
Episode Source: TOS- Day of the Dove
The House Of Kular is pleased to announce that we are bringing back our Klingon Proverb Discussion series. For this discussion, I would first like to thank SFO's XO, Tain, for suggesting this particular proverb! Like many other Klingon proverbs, I feel that this one applies to actual military tactics and real life in general. I personally think its fundamental meaning is twofold, one being to not get so wrapped up in one singular thing that you lost sight of the big picture and to understand when its time to move on from something you are trying to accomplish once it becomes apparent that your time and resources could be better utilized elsewhere.
From my military training, I can personally attest that young, inexperienced leaders really struggle with that first meaning. It is so easy to put all your concentration on the task at hand or trying to accomplish a particular objective that you neglect to see the big picture and how you fit in it. In some circumstances, your actions on an objective may now actually be a detriment to the overall mission due to an evolving battlefield. Most modern militaries use a system of decentralized command, which allows small unit leaders to make their own decisions while operating under a "Commander's Intent." If a small unit leaders fails to see the big picture, his or her actions may now no longer accomplishing the Commander's Intent.
I think this proverb can be helpful in real life because how many times in life have we wrapped ourselves up so much in solving a particular problem that we fail to step back and look at things holistically and realize that sometimes the original problem really doesn't even need solved anymore or the solution presents itself once you look at it from a different way.
I feel this also ties into what I think is the second meaning of the importance of realize it when it is time to move on on something. I think there are plenty of situations where situations turn into a lost cause. I realize that this is kind of contrary to the well know adage of " Never Give Up," but I feel that sometimes there are definitely situations where utilizing your time and resources to different task or goal is very important once you realize you are working in a "Burning House."
Agree? Disagree? Something to Add? We would love to hear about it!
If Proverb discussions interest you, please feel free to give your thoughts on our past discussions here: #1, #2, #3.
If you would like to submit a proverb for a future discussion, please make a post in THIS tread!
