On one same morning, this phrase was brought to my attention twice. It was strikingly put in a draft press release to which I was supposed to give a visa. The press release which was to condemn the killing of a Pakistani journalist, read ( and I quote):
“Killing the messenger does not solve any problems whatsoever. It is essential democracy that journalists be able to carry out their mission of public information. Their job is vital if the public is to engage in open debate and be able to make informed decisions.”
Just a few moments later, the phrase came up again, this time as the heading of an article in The Economist about Vietnam that some "urchin" suddenly bombarded onto my mailbox, challenging me to suggest the best Vietnamese equivalent to the last two sentences therein.
While the press release has already been published and the quest for the best Vietnamese translation remains unfinished, I've had a good excuse to reflect upon an old metaphoric phrase, the use of which, unfortunately, seems to have so much room to come alive again in this “modern” world!
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In ancient times, messages were delivered in person by a human envoy. Sometimes, as in war, for example, the messenger was sent from the enemy camp. An easily-provoked combatant receiving such an overture could more easily vent anger (or otherwise retaliate) on the deliverer of the unpopular message than on its author, thus literally killing the messenger. In modern usage, the expression still refers to any kind of punishment meted out to the person bringing bad news, but has taken on an ironic dimension as well. Now, any adverse reaction, even one so mild as a raised eyebrow, could prompt a protest against shooting the messenger.
Origins of the phrase
The advice "Don't shoot the messenger" was first expressed by Shakespeare in Henry IV, part 2 (1598)[citation needed] and in Antony and Cleopatra[1] (1606-07). Prior to that, a related sentiment was expressed in Antigone by Sophocles as "No one loves the messenger who brings bad news."[1].
An analogy of the phrase can come from the breaching of an invisible code of conduct in war, where a commanding officer was expected to receive and send back emissaries or diplomatic envoys sent by the enemy unharmed. During the early Warring States period of China, the concept of chivalry and virtue prevented the executions of messengers sent by opposing sides.
Similar phrases
A syntactically similar expression is "Don't shoot the piano player; he's doing the best he can". It originated around 1860 in the Wild West of the United States. During his 1883 tour of the United States, Oscar Wilde saw this saying on a notice in a Leadville, Colorado, saloon. This phrase (like many witty sayings of that era) is sometimes attributed to Mark Twain, but neither Wilde nor Twain ever claimed authorship.
Alternative expressions:
- "Killing the messenger"
- "Attacking the messenger"
- "Blaming the bearer of bad tidings"
As a logical fallacy
- "Attacking the messenger" is also a subdivision of the ad hominem logical fallacy.
References
- ^ I, 2 : "The nature of bad news infects the teller."
