Deathbed Quote: This Is No Time for Making New Enemies

[victor steinbok]

Here's one for Voltaire, apparently from 1972 (internal reference seem to
confirm the date, but it's not entirely clear).

http://goo.gl/hs6xM

Here's an odd "Russian" version.

http://goo.gl/WKLk2

One version refers to a dying man (by name, but I don't know who), but this
one differs slightly and the meaning is completely different--"Where I am
going, it's best not to make those kinds of enemies". But I can't find the
passage at this moment. Perhaps you'll have better luck.

There is also a passage in Beaumont & Fletcher's Valentinian, where one
character refuses to defend himself, facing a certain death, and comments,
"I have no power to make such enemies". It's not quite the same situation,
but there is some superficial resemblance.

VS-)

On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 4:38 PM, Garson O'Toole <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com>wrote:

> ...
> If a list member can find an instance of this joke schema before
> August 6, 1856, or an instance attributed to Voltaire before September
> 21, 1974, or an instance attributed to Machiavelli before 1981 that
> would be helpful. Thanks.
> ...

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