Winston Churchill: Put down 2.

While on the subject of put downs and Winston Churchill, I also recently read of an incident with Lady Astor, where Lady Astor supposedly replied to Sir Winston with the following piece of sarcasm: “I suppose I would sleep with you for a Million Pounds”. To which Winston offered her ten Pounds. To which she exclaimed haughtily and shrilly, “Just what sort of women do you think I am?” All to which he calmly replied. “We have already established that! All we are doing now is haggling about price.”
This exposes another danger of using sarcasm: That of having it reinterpreted as being genuine when it wasn’t. I am pretty sure that Lady Astor would probably have never slept with Sir Winston at any price and was only trying to belittle him with her comment. However, in her attempt to belittle him, Winston was able to turn it back on her and the only one belittled, was herself, and all her own doing too!
Again this shows the danger of using sarcasm and especially in trying to belittle others, as it also makes you vulnerable to a counter charge. Again one is reminded of an old Maximum. That of “He/ she, who lives in a glasshouse, should not throw stones”. Lady Astor probable thought she was pretty clever and cutting with her comment, but Sir Winston, was able to take her very own “Stone” and throw it back at her smashing her defences completely.
Again where a word to the wise is appropriate it should, even must, be said, but don’t try and put people down with sarcasm, unless you live in a completely stone proof house with all the guards up. What say you? Walter