Keep calm and carry on; it’s the British way Posted On 30 March 2020
Keeping a stiff upper lip. It’s something for which the British are renowned: stoically battling on in the face of adversity, jaws clenched, teeth gritted, a resolute expression, a statement of intent
For example, think of that symbol of defiance, Sir Francis Drake continuing his game of bowls as the might of the Spanish Armada massed off our shores; the Earl of Uxbridge relaying a description of his injuries to the Duke of Wellington at The Battle of Waterloo (‘My lord, I seem to have lost my leg’); or the ultimate sacrifice from Capt Lawrence Oates who, crippled by frostbite and gangrene, stepped out of a freezing tent into a howling Antarctic blizzard to seal his doom because he thought he was slowing down Capt Robert Scott’s ill-fated march for survival.
Or the modern-day equivalent of trying to work from home during the Coronavirus lockdown while the internet buffers because EVERYONE is using it and the bored teenager next door kicks a football against a wall with metronomic repetition, sparking his pet dog to bark himself hoarse thinking it’s a game.
But what does it mean? And how did we coin the expression?
Obviously, the opposite of a ‘stiff upper lip’ is a trembling one, typically seen as a sign of weakness from someone who is suffering an episode of deep emotion.
As for the origins, many believe they can be traced to the Ancient Greeks and the Spartans, whose cult of discipline and self-sacrifice first influenced the Romans, with Emperor Marcus Aurelius musing: “If you are distressed by any external thing, it is not this which disturbs you, but your own judgment about it. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgment now.”
However, the concept really took root in Victorian society, notably through the English public-school system and is best crystallised by Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘If…’ and W E Henley’s ‘Invictus’.
During those brutally strict times, terrifying schoolmasters set out to instil a code of discipline and devotion into their charges with a series of character-building exercises, corporal punishment and freezing cold showers.
Already rife throughout the ruling classes, it naturally spread through the armed forces where courage in the face of death became a daily necessity.
And so it became seen as perhaps the ultimate sign of Britishness. Whatever the odds, we won’t let it stop us.
In short, keep calm and carry on. Stay home. Save Lives. It’s the only way…
Connect with us
View by date
Recent Posts
Treat your Tree this Christmas
As the winter season approaches, attention will soon turn to adorning the house during the busy Christmas period. And there is no bigger opportunity to nail decoration than ensuring that the Christmas tree radiates splendour throughout the home. So here are some tips on how to make everybody envious of your tree, this year. …
Continue reading “Treat your Tree this Christmas”
Read more...
Take our festive brain teaser
The Christmas countdown has begun… but just how much do you know about the festive season? Here are 15 questions to test your knowledge, so no Googling and don’t ask Alexa. It’s time to get serious… 1 Which carol features the line: “God and sinners reconciled”? 2 Who played Buddy in that festive classic, …
Continue reading “Take our festive brain teaser”
Read more...
Christmas COVID restrictions explained
Coronavirus restrictions to be eased to allow people to mix with a wider circle of friends over Christmas… Yesterday, the government announced the easing of COVID restrictions over the Christmas period, which will have come as a slight relief to many who have struggled to envision a festive period this year. The easing …
Continue reading “Christmas COVID restrictions explained”
Read more...
PM announces post-lockdown tiers for England
Yesterday, Boris Johnson told the House of Commons that the three-tiered regional measures will return from the 2nd of December. He added that each tier will be toughened, but gyms and non-essential shops in all parts of England will be allowed to reopen. In a surprise announcement, the PM confirmed that spectators will be …
Continue reading “PM announces post-lockdown tiers for England”
Read more...
Most unique and prestigious advent calendars for the whole family this Christmas.
Believe it or not, Christmas is coming, and it’s perhaps come around quicker than most Christmases before it… So it’s time to start thinking about advent calendars! It’s true that we usually prefer to be eating chocolate each morning of December on the lead up to good ol’ Christmas, for it’s a time to …
Continue reading “Most unique and prestigious advent calendars for the whole family this Christmas.”
Read more...