[Ads-l] Proverb Origin: A bayonet is a weapon with a worker at each end

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Way back in 2012 Jonathan Lighter initiated a discussion thread about
the adage in the subject line. Here are two links:

https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2012-January/116015.html
https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2012-February/116031.html

The wonderful 2012 reference work "The Dictionary of Modern Proverbs"
contains an entry about the saying on page 15 which begins with a 1942
citation.

Recently on Bluesky, I received a request to explore this topic. The
earliest match I found appeared in an article published in "Peace
News" of London on March 10, 1939 by English politician and peace
activist James Hudson:

[ref] 1939 March 10, Peace News, The Week in Parliament: Communists'
Role in Spain Arms "Squandermania" by James Hudson, Quote Page 2,
Column 1, Published from the Office of Peace News, London. (Verified
with scans) [/ref]

[Begin excerpt]
In war, one defends neither democracy nor the workers. A bayonet is a
weapon with a worker at each end.
[End excerpt]

Based on current evidence, James Hudson is the leading candidate for
the creator of this saying.

The evidence supporting the attribution to Scottish socialist John
Maclean is very weak because he died in 1923, and he implausibly
received credit decades after his death.

Here is a link to the Quote Investigator article:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2025/11/10/bayonet-worker/

Feedback and interesting material would be welcome.
Garson O'Toole
QuoteInvestigator.com

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