reculer pour mieux sauter [rəkyle pur mjø sote] phr.
1.) Making use of a withdrawal or setback in such a way as to advance or succeed all the more (O.E.D. 2nd Edition).
Etymology: French, lit. 'to draw back in order to leap better'.
"If we are to build a better world, we must have the courage to make a new start—even if that means some reculer pour mieux sauter. It is not those who believe in inevitable tendencies who show this courage, not those who preach a 'New Order' which is no more than a projection of the tendencies of the last forty years, and who can think of nother better than to imitate Hitler" (The Road to Serfdom, Friedrich August Hayek, 1944).
Don't worry, this is as political as I will ever get.
16 comments:
Whoa! That is a mouthful. LOL Love it.
5 years from now, I'll look back, remember this blog and think: There was this on really long set of words that I knew back then I wouldn't remember. And I don't. I'm awesome.
Then I'll buy myself a drink.
So I didn't know what 'réculer' meant. Thanks for also improving my French :)
this one is nice.
To draw back in order to leap better.. I'm going to adopt this new philosophy and see how it works!
that is one long ass word :D
oh, dear, this is a long one, Edmund :)
I've heard the term "strategic fallback" in English but the French put it more eloquently, as usual, with the "sauter" aspect.
This blog is really awesome. I came across it before, but then I lost the link, then I found it again.
English is my second language, but I have been using it my entire life and I know it better than my mother tongue. I even think in English.
But it's still sort of frustrating/fascinating to see so many words I don't know. To me it's as if I am missing out on all the ways to express myself.
nice one!
i tried five times to pronounce it right... not a single time
Would a girl/guy "playing hard to get" be an example of this?
Interesting, but if you allow this, then pretty much any saying in any language is fair game.
Retroceder para tomar impulso, that's how it's said in spanish.
Uh, I'm pretty sure there's something in ENGLISH for this meaning hahaha.
Love it! Very strategic! I've used this strategy in games, personal relationships and art. Didn't realize that there was a term for it!
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